Kaiapoi Borough rate rise 2.45 p.c.

Press, 15 June 1983, Page 22

Kaiapoi Borough rate rise 2.45 p.c.

The Kaiapoi Borough Council has confirmed a rate increase of 2.45 per cent, with all but one of the councillors voting in favour of the confirmation at their meeting this week. Cr C. W. D. Hodgson, in opposing the move, said the council had acted illegally in not including the previous year’s credit balance of $103,519 in its rates estimates. Electricity Members of the council’s electricity committee expressed concern at the timing of a statement by the Minister of Energy, Mr Birch, which said that the bulk electricity tariff might be increased during the price freeze. The chairman of the committee, Cr A. H. Empson, said he was concerned that the statement had been released at the beginning of winter when local supply authorities were trying to sell electrical appliances. He said it might discourage people from buying more appliances if they thought the price of electricity would rise. Cr M. 0. Cleland said the statement might make it more difficult for the council to keep the borough a clean air zone.

“Just when we are trying to promote electricity this letter does the opposite, she said, r

; The committee recommended that the council write to Mr' Birch expressing its disappointment at the timing of his statement. Roadshow The council’s finance committee recommended that the council grant the Roadshow Trust the cost of sending junior Kaiapoi High School pupils to “Roadshow ’83.” - The trust said in a letter to the council that transport for the 450 children would cost between $450 and $5OO. Cr P. J. Redmond said that as this only amounted to about $1 for each child, parents should be able to meet the cost of transport Crs Empson and F. P. Wade both disagreed, and said they thought it was particularly important for all the children to see the show. Noise Act The council may put forward a remit about the new Noise Control Act at the annual meeting of the South Island Local Bodies Association. The act, which

took effect on June 1, requires local bodies to provide noise control officers. Cr Cleland said the remit could express the objection of local bodies to the responsibilities placed upon them by the Government The committee recommended that the i council draft the remit in time for the association’s meeting in September. Grant to brigade A grant of $lOO to the Pines Kairaki Volunteer Fire Brigade was recommended. Cr A. H. Blackie noted that while the brigade was not in debt it was only just in credit. ’’ The committee agreed that the coucil should offer financial support to the brigade if it requested money for a particular item. 1