Riccarton rejects nuclear zone move

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 6

Riccarton rejects nuclear zone move

The Riccarton - Borough Council’s finance and by-laws committee yesterday, rejected a proposal to declare the area a nuclear-free zone. The' request, which came from Mr M. B. Austin, of 22 Whiteleigh Avenue, was described as "a lot of nonsense” by Cr G. R, Marriner. His view was shared by Cr G. W. Hunt, who said that “it is ludicrous little old Riccarton going into a business of this kind.” Dog fees

The committee recommended a 50 per cent reduction on dog registration and hydatids dosing fees for State beneficiaries receiving . less than $2OO a year from other sources and owning only one dog. Cr Hunt asked whether the committee might relax the requirements to accept a higher minimum income, but Cr D. Anderson said that they did not want “to go overboard." The proposal was rejected. Slipway The committee . also recommended that, a grant of not more than $2OOO be made in the 1982-1983 estimates

towards the repair of the Sumner .Life Boat Institute’s slipway.. a The request came from the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay). He said that the repairs would cost $BO,OOO-to-$lOO,OOO and that, because it was a community facility, the City Council would contibute half of the funds needed and it sought contributions from other councils. Members of,the committee questioned the estimate. Cr_. Hunt said that $lOO,OOO would coyer the launching of the Queen Mary. “We are not talking about a huge ship. We are talking about a lifeboat.” Penal policy The . Council’s community and -development committee voted to write to the local of Parliament (Mr P. R. Bqrdon) asking him to represent their views to the penal policy review committee concerning the proposed extension' of the community service sentence scheme.

The community affairs officer, Mrs Anne McLean, said that there were issues which the council should comment on while the scheme was in the review stage. '

“They talk about using volunteers. Where is this pool of volunteers to come from? It will be tough work,” she said. An employment directory prepared by council staff was ready for publication, Mrs McLean told the committee. It would include a list of industries in the area, the employment available and the skills sought but would not list job vacancies. Cr Hunt asked whether there was still an unemployment problem in the borough, because he had been unable to fill positions in his factory. He was told that the problem' still existed but that most of the unemployed were unskilled. Support sought The committee received a letter from the New Zealand University Student’s Association canvassing its support for the Student Community Service Programme which was being reviewed by the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger). The Town Clerk, Mr J. Skinner, recommended that the - council support the scheme in principle and the recommendation was accepted. • ■'