New group ‘vote of no confidence’ in Citizens

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 5

New group ‘vote of no confidence’ in Citizens

The Labour mayoral candidate for Christchurch says the formation of a city-wide ratepayer protection group is a vote of no-confidence in the Citizens’ Association. Cr Alex Clark said the setting up of the Christchurch Ratepayers Protection Committee this week showed a complete lack of faith in the association and its administration of the city.

Traditionally the association had prided itself on protecting the ratepayers’ interests, Cr Clark said.

The Citizens chairman, Mr Newton Dodge, agreed that the association did pride itself on looking after the ratepayer. It had done so and would continue to do so, he said. He said the protection

committee was another pressure group formed by ratepayers who were anxious to have the council put their individual interests above the city as a whole. “Of course Cr Clark would say it was a vote of no-confidence in the Citizens. In his position he has to,” Mr Dodge said. Cr Clark said a Labour council would ensure full public debate on public spending, and that financial reports were presented in a form understandable to ratepayers. A thorough overhaul of council expenditure and income was needed if the City expected other authorities to support a one-city concept. Cr Clark said ratepayers had the right to form groups

to defend their interests, although it was not the job of the group, through the news media, to monitor council budgets. That was the task of elected councillors.

It was important that faith in the City’s administration was not undermined. The real financial responsibility lay round the council table, and people should ensure they elected the most competent council to administer the City. He questioned the position of the protection committee’s executive director, Mr Roy Hughes. “I am concerned that the self-appointed spokesperson, Mr Hughes, has a vested interest, in his work as a consultant to other local authorities,” Cr Clark said.