Drainage cost criticised

Press, 9 December 1982, Page 6

Drainage cost criticised

Labour Party members of the Christchurch Drainage Board yesterday criticised the Government’s decision to build a new Christchurch Girls’ High School. The board's development and construction committee received details of plans to build a new weir and reopen part of the mill race through the Fleming's mill site. The board and the Education Department are sharing the costs of a scheme designed to landscape the school site and 'also provide flood pro-

tection for land further upstream on the Avon River. Mr J. G. Freeman said that the scheme would cost the board thousands of dollars which could be spent on other drainage projects. “The whole scheme for the new high school is an extravagance which we cannot afford," he said. The committee’s chairman, Mr T. B. Whelan, said that the work was a major river improvement and a separate issue from the decision to build the school.

The House took urgency on reports back from select committees and legislation on a division vote. 37-36. The Rodney County Council (Mobile Home Parks) Empowering Bill was reported back from the Local Bills Committee with a recommendation that it not proceed, but with a rider on the report recommending a review of general legislation. The Waitemata Electric Power Board (Albany-Glen-field-Wairau Valley Electric Transmission Line) Validation Bill, the Greymouth Harbour Board Empowering Bill, and the Auckland City Council (Reserves Disposal) Empowering Bill were all reported back from the Local Bills Committee, with amendments. The Public Works Amendment Bill was reported back from the Lands and Agriculture Select Committee, without amendment, on a division, 38-37. The Meat Export Prices Amendment Bill and the Animals Amendment Bill were both reported back, with amendments, from the Lands and Agriculture Committee. . The Health and Welfare Committee reported back the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill and the Social Security Amendment (No. 4) Bill. The Statutes Revision Committee reported back the Companies Amendment Bill and the Commerce and Energy Committee reported back the Petroleum Amendment Bill. The Aircrew Industrial Tribunal Amendment Bill, and the Agricultural Workers Amendment Bill were given third readings. The Hospitals Amendment (No. 2) Bill was read a second time, as was the Securities Amendment Bill and the Tokelau Amendment Bill. The Land Tax Amendment Bill was committed. The committal stages of the Noise Control Bill was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m., the Noise Control Bill, the Agricultural Pests . Destruction Amendment Bill, and the Pork Industry Board Bill were committed. The Banking Bill and the Education Amendment Bill (No. 4) were given second readings. The Income Tax Amendment Bill and the Superannuation Schemes Amendment Bill (No. 2) were passed through their committal stages before the House rose at 11.17 p.m.