Mr Elwood to deliver reform news himself

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 7

Mr Elwood to deliver reform news himself

Mr Brian Elwood, chairman of the Local Government Commission, will personally deliver the commission’s decision on the future of Christchurch’s local government to councils in February. Mr Elwood expects Christchurch to weigh heavily on his mind during Christmas as he considers his recommendation on reform. The commission will meet in Wellington in early February and will make a decision based on that recommendation. Not only territorial government is before the commission for reform. Mr Elwood acknowledges that electricity distribution and regional government — which the commission has also been asked to look at — are effectively “on hold” until the territorial question is settled. Mr Elwood said yesterday that he intended calling a combined meeting of Christchurch councils to announce the commission’s decision on territorial reform. He did

not relish “playing doctor” and writing the prescription for Christchurch territorial government. “I would have welcomed a local solution, a consensus solution, but none was forthcoming,” he said. "I am going to bite the bullet on the territorial issue — and it is a bullet.” He would not say what his recommendation might be. The councils would be the first to know, he said. Neither would he be drawn on possible electricity reform other than to say that it was inextricably linked with territorial reform. Christchurch councillors agree with that. Waimairi District councillors say that the electricity issue is as important as amalgamation. Waimairi differs from its Christchurch counterparts in favouring a single-pur-pose regional authority to handle power distribution. It wants an elected body with Canterbury United Council appointees. Riccarton, Heathcote,

Paparua, Lyttelton, and Christchurch City favour territorial councils retaining power. Mr Elwood said yesterday that he had received a response on electricity reform as requested from Lyttelton. The commission had still to receive submissions from other councils. When he met councils in October to discuss power, Mr Elwood asked for a response by Christmas. The final decision on electricity reform lies with the Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard. Mr Elwood expects to make a recommendation to him once the commission has made a decision on the territorial issue. Regional government and the possible extension of its function would be fitted round what was decided on the territorial and electricity questions, Mr Elwood said. He would not comment on a suggestion that regional bodies such as the Canterbury United Council might take over power supply.