Value of study tour questioned

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 6

Value of study tour questioned

Controversy' raged before two Waimairi Cbunty Council officials left on an overseas tour which cost the council $7600. . Now they have returned,' two councillors doubt whether the tour was worth it. Information in the report of the overseas study tour could have been gathered from books and correspondence, two members of the council’s finance committee said last evening. The council had not received value for money in the 113-page report on Government administration in Britain and Australia, said Cr F. Chisholm. He named two books

available in New Zealand which, he said, provided much fuller information on local government and financial matters. Councillor H. M. Tait said she supported Cr Chisholm in his views. The 57600 study tour by the County' Chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) and the County Clerk (Mr J. Reid) had been “a com-

plete waste of money,” she said. The report was of little relevance to New Zealand, and the information could have been readily available from reading or from getting in touch with councils in Australia and Britain. Councillor Tait also

disagreed with some of the conclusions drawn in the report, particularly with the recommendation that travel’ was necessary to keep “up to date” "with developments overseas. “That is absolute rubbish,” she said. “You can keep up to date by reading or receiving information from councils overseas.”

Cr Tait said tangible benefits could arise from a trip to Australia, where the local government more closely resembled New Zealand’s. Cr W. T. Rice said any further trips should repre-

sent all local bodies so that all could benefit.

In reply, Mr Rich said there had been “a dimension to the experiences which Mr Reid and myself had that cannot be easibcontained within a report." He did not think appre ciation of some things wa possible without seeim them. He had been “tend fled” at the extent of political involvement in local government in Britain. It was essential people be told about the degree to which bureaucrats overseas were insidiously whittling away the independence of local authorities. Mr Rich said the news

media had “glossed” that message over so far. “One or two of our news media outlets are committed to amalgamation,” he said. Other issues contained in the report would be brought before the council n the future.

As a result of a suggesion from Cr I. G. Lyons, he committee agreed that ;n “objective audit” of the senefits of the tour should ;e considered in six or 12 months’ time.

The only yardstick by which to evaluate the value of the study tour was whether the ratepayers received any benefit from it, said Cr Lyons.