Govt moves may alter balance of councils

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 1

Govt moves may alter balance of councils

The Deputy Mayor of Christchurch, Cr Maurice Carter, and four of his Citizens’ Association colleagues would have to become city residents if they wanted to stand again for the City Council under proposed Government legislation.

Labour’s Cr Geoff Stone, who has lived in Ashburton County since becoming a candidate for the Ashburton Parliamentary seat, would also be affected by the change. Serious discussion of the new legislation’s implications was urged yesterday by the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay. Under the change, eligibility to vote and be a candidate for local body elections would be based solely on whether a person was a resident and was at least aged 18. The traditional system allows city businesses to nominate someone connected with them as city voters. Nominated persons can live outside the city boundary and stand for local body offices in the city. The naming of “nominal occupiers” would be stopped by the legislative change.

“Every business owning property in the city, has a right to nominate somebody to the roll,” said Sir Hamish. Individuals would be able to vote and stand for office only in the local authority districts where they lived. Sir Hamish said that there was no way to tell how many votes and persons would be affected by the change in the Christchurch area. Persons living in areas such as the Waimairi District, Riccarton Borough, and Heathcote County would no longer have a say in the way city affairs were administered. “A fundamental ' and traditional right is being taken away from the property owner, the ratepayer,” said Sir Hamish. The business community were substantial ratepayers. “It cuts across a very

fundamental principle,” he said. “I certainly hope there will be some serious public discussion before the law is changed. “Of course, this raises the inevitable question of the need to rationalise boundaries,” said Sir Hamish. It would highlight some lems inherent in the present system. For many years, Labour’s Cr Mollie Clark lived in the Waimairi District. Mrs Nancy Sutherland, a Labour councillor in the 19705, lived in Heathcote County. The new legislation “is going to happen quietly, but it is a radical change,” said Sir Hamish. “I am not totally surprised by it because it has long been a part of the Labour Party philosophy.” Although he could not gauge the change’s effect on

local government, “all I know is it won’t be helpful,” he said. From 700 to 800 businesses in the city might nominate voters, he said. He said that many persons who lived outside Christchurch had “served the city with distinction, and the city will be the loser for all that. Some councillors might be lost who are fully willing to continue on,” As well as Cr Carter, Citizens’ Association councillors who live outside the city are Crs Helen Garrett, Rex Arbuckle, John Burn, and Morgan Fahey. Some ad hoc local body members representing areas outside the places where they live could also be affected. Local bodies have been asked by the Municipal Association to comment on the proposed legislation.

“It is clear now that the new Government intends to bring in this legislation at a fairly early stage,” said Sir Hamish. “It will certainly be introduced this session.”

He said he thought the change had been spurred by the situation in Auckland, where the City Council had been “dominated by a fairly narrow section of the community.”

A Municipal Association newsletter this month said it was understood that introduction of a uniform franchise based on residence in a district would be a first step toward implementing single enrolment and a common roll for Parliamentary and local body elections. “In principle, a common roll seems a reasonable move,” said Sir Hamish, “but there are major implications for local Government.” “It is also understood that all electors will be able to participate in loan polls which are at present restricted to ratepayers,” said the newsletter, “and that no provision will be made for absentee ratepayers to continue to vote in districts where they are not resident.”

The Municpal Association said that early submissions from local bodies would enable further informal discussions with the Government on the legislation before it was introduced.