Helicopter service

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 18

Helicopter service

Sir,—Residents who gave submissions to the Parks and Recreation Committee of the Christchurch City Council against the helicopter sight-seeing service are grateful to the councillors who listened to them and in the end supported them. Perhaps the lesson to be learnt from this unsatisfactory episode is that once again “fast-track” procedures have proved unsatisfactory to all sides. They provoke bitter conflict and resulting uncertainty which in the end may greatly harm the enterprise they were enlisted to support. Slow, democratic and legal procedures may appear frustrating, but will usually arrive more quickly at the best acceptable solution—Yours, etc ALAN WILKINSON. Co-leader, N.Z. Values Party. May 9, 1984.

Sir,—The views expressed at the Christchurch City Council’s parks and recreation committee meeting on May 8 showed that the matter of helicopter flights from New Brighton was controversial. The three months trial was granted by the committee’s chairman during the Christmas-New Year recess. Never again must local government be in the hands of one person during a recess. It is imperative that the council revises its standing orders. At present they give too much authority, too much responsibility and too much power to one person. There should be a recess committee made up of a reasonable number of councillors and there should be a three-fourths majority vote on issues. Only matters of minor importance should be considered. All other matters, especially those likely to be controversial, should be held over pending the return of the council to full session. — Yours, etc., B. R. HANSEN. May 9, 1984.