Council opposed to M.O.T. office move

Press, 3 February 1982, Page 14

Council opposed to M.O.T. office move

The Paparua County Council has decided to send a telegram to the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair) expressing its opposition to the decision to move the Ministry of Transport office from Sockburn to the new State Insurance building in Riccarton.

Cr W. J. Baker, proposing the motion, said that the move would cause unnecessary hardship to rural ratepayers. Cr E. C. Britnell, endorsing Cr Baker’s comments, said that he was sure that Mr Gair was not fully aware of the facts.

“Riccarton Road is probably one of the most congested roads in New Zealand and the State Insurance building is just off Riccarton Road in perhaps its busiest spot, and without adequate car-parking facilities,” he said. The motion was carried unanimously.

The council voted to refuse a request from the Christchurch City Council to erect signs in the county welcoming people to Christchurch and naming Christchurch’s four sister cities.

The proposed signs were to be erected at Hornby and at

the Yaldhurst Road and Russley Road intersection. The town planning committee had recommended that the request be refused because Paparua had not been involved in the decision to make the overseas cities sister cities, and because it would gain nothing from having the signs erected. Cr P. K. Keller, opposing the recommendation, said that he could see nothing wrong with having the signs put up. “I think it is getting a wee bit trivial.”

He said that the city council’s request could not be interpreted as a wedge for amalgamation. Cr G. T. Wright said that he supported the committee’s recommendation for reasons of road safety. “It would have to be a big sign on an already dangerous intersection,” he said. Cr A. J. Silke said that he did not think that the county needed any more signs. “We have got four sister cities now. How many more are we going to get. and how big will the sign grow?” The member for Selwyn, Ms Ruth Richardson, attended the meeting. She was welcomed by the chairman, Cr J. Y. Pethig, who said that he hoped that it signi-

fieri a closer relationship between iocal and central Government. Cr A. Y. Shuker said that it was the first time that a local Member of Parliament had attended a council meeting in the 17 years that he had been a councillor, and that he hoped that it would lead to a happy and harmonious association.