Use of council cars

Press, 5 August 1985, Page 12

Use of council cars

Sir,—The Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, and his Citizens councillors show little concern with the rising rate problem which is causing worry and hardship to many people.!! Sir Hamish has the difficulty of not having sufficient money to run this city he should economise by curtailing the number of expensive council cars being driven for private use by some privileged -staff members. One sees cars being driven to and from homes of staff and surely all these staff are not on stand-by for urgent call-outs. It seems to be a perk at the ratepayers’ expense. I attend Christchurch Polytechnic courses and repeatedly see council cars parked in the carparks there outside working hours. Surely the drivers of cars KQ97B7MED, KU9721, L 83607, JP6575, HU5413 and others are not on official council business. An immediate stop to this extravagant and unnecessary practice is expected. — Yours, etc., PETER SALMONS.

July 25, 1985. [The General Manager and Town Clerk of Christchurch, Mr J. H. Gray, replies: “Your correspondent will no longer see the council cars referred to in the Polytechnic car park after August 15, as the workrelated course which the staff driving those cars are required to attend as part of their duties commenced On May 29 and will finish on the date mentioned. They are field staff based at widelyseparated points throughout the city and the use of these vehicles is the only practicable form of transport. If Mr Salmons Wishes to discuss the matter in greater depth, I would be pleased to hear from him.”]