Kaiapoi fails to get extra police

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 24

Kaiapoi fails to get extra police

A request for a community constable to be stationed at Kaiapoi has been refused by the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr G. E. Twentyman. The Kaiapoi Borough Council had expressed its concern about the number of police stationed in the borough. At a meeting on Monday evening it heard that Mr Twentyman had noted the request but that it would have to be considered in relation to the needs of other areas. Because of Government constraints on staff appointments, the request for a community constable could not be considered at present, Mr Twentyman said. The offending rate at Kaiapoi over the last three years had remained fairly constant and Mr Twentyman said he was pleased that the council agreed that 'the present police staff .were doing their job competently. The council was told that a replacement had been appointed for the constable who was transferred from the borough recently. Reports Reports on council meetings will be circulated to Kaiapoi ratepayers with their electricity accounts. The Mayor, Mr H. W. Cumberland, in moving the suggestion, said the ratepayers needed a summary of what the council was doing, what it intended to do and what it had done because they were not getting proper reports of council meetings, from the news media. Peraki Street Construction work on Peraki Street will continue and about another $40,000 will be spent on the street. However, this would not cover the whole street up to Fuller Street, said the Town Clerk, Mr R. N. McCabe. Electrical report Work on putting the borough’s electrical supply system underground should be completed in 1985-6 and this should provide electricity to Kaiapoi at very competitive prices for many years to come, said the electrical engineer, Mr M. G. Ruddenklau. During the financial year ended March 31, about 1630 m of 11,000-volt cable

was installed. About 2.87 km of overhead 11,000-volt cable was still to be placed underground. Last year, 1650 km of low-tension cable was installed, leaving 4.4 km still to be done. Total electrical expenditure for the year was $1,147,577 ($53,544 less than estimated) and total revenue was $1,611,246 ($45,000 more than last year). The cash balance for the financial year had increased from $66,028 to $162,891, said Mr Ruddenklau in his report. Estimates A brief preliminary discussion on priorities for the 1984-85 estimates was held. Mr Cumberland said the main priority was likely to be the building of a new library. Cr A. H. Empson said street cleaning should also be a priority. United council A grant of $10,272 was made to the Canterbury United Council. A motion to contribute an extra $212 to the United Council’s resource centre was lost after a brief discussion. A decision on funding the Canterbury Development Corporation was deferred until the council obtained more information on its relationship with the Canterbury Regional Development Council. Cr L. N. Price said the two organisations had the same telephone numbers, the same box numbers and the same administration. Catchment Board The council will ask the North Canterbury Catchment Board about the financing of recent additional staffing, and about their duties.