Council backs aid bid

Press, 26 September 1980, Page 5

Council backs aid bid

The Canterbury United Council will prepare a case to put to the Government for the territory it covers to be declared a regional development district.

The council decided to approach the Government after considering a letter from the Christchurch .City Council explaining the benefits that could accrue from such a declaration.

In a letter to the United Council, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) said that with the high level of unemployment in Christchurch it was vital that every possible incentive be available to encourage the expansion of industry in the area to provide jobs. Members of the United Council, emphasised that the case to be put to the Government should be thoroughly researched.

The United Council also supported, unanimously, the application by the Mount Cook Group for ap-

proval to run air services between Christchurch and three Australian cities. The council’s chairman, Mr C. N. Mackenzie, said that such a service would be “a great thing" for Canterbury and the South (stand.

The council was told in a report from its airpQliution committee thattje« ports were being obtained from the technical subcommittee about recoin, mendations from a public meeting in July organised by the St Albans Residents’Association. !

The recommendations being considered by the. sub-committee are that the council carries out a survey to establish the social consequences of a ban 011 open fires and that the air-pollution committee prepare a map of Christchurch showing the wotsf areas for smog so that sufferers from respiratory ailments could minimise the effect on their health; ’

The air-pollution committee said in its report that it considered individual local authorites more appropriate to send warning letters to householders who had permits for space heaters -that they faced fines of up to $2OO if they burnt anything other than what their permit allowed;