Amalgamation opposed

Press, 28 February 1980, Page 2

Amalgamation opposed

The amalgamation of the Counties Association and the < Municipal Association, has ‘ been opposed by 15 county < councils in Canterbury. ( The 15 councils which < make up ward 11 of the s Counties Association held i their annual meeting yester- 1 day. The amalgamation ques- i tion was raised by the chair- 1 man, Mr C. N. Mackenzie, of 1 Hurunui County.

There was adequate cooperation between the two associations through the territorial Local Government Council at present and amalgamation would provide no economic advantages,' he said. Mr A. A. Macfarlane, of Amuri County, said amalgamation would be a disaster if the counties were outnumbered in the combined group. Waimari County’s chair-

man (Mr D. B. Rich) was in a minority at the meeting when he suggested that amalgamation was inevitable and that the, association should accept this and hold out for the best terms possible. If ward members accepted the idea of a big gap between town and country they were also suggesting that the Canterbury United Council, of which they were members, would not work,

said Mr T. M. Inch, of the Rangiora District Council. A motion opposing amalgamation was put to the meeting and carried. The main business of the ward meeting was to discuss remits proposed by member councils for consideration at this year’s meeting of the Counties Association.

Of the 10 remits proposed, only two will not go to the national meeting.