Nats ‘would probably’ drop Local Govt Commission

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 5

Nats ‘would probably’ drop Local Govt Commission

A National Government would probably disband the Local Government Commission, according to the party’s spokesman on local government.

Mr John Banks, member of Parliament for Whangarei, said yesterday that should the Government change next year, the Local Government Commission would likely be disbanded.

He was quick to point out that he was not stating official party policy and the issue had not been discussed by the party’s caucus. He would take it to caucus, he said.

Mr Banks’ comments were prompted by the Local Government Commission’s announcement of a one-city plan for restructuring local government in Christchurch.

The plan received no applause from Mr Banks, who said three responsible and efficient councils — Heathcote, Waimairi, and Riccarton — were being swallowed up in a giant monolithic authority.

He could understand their being aggrieved at losing their identity. He, too, had doubts as to the benefits of a giant authority. He believed that the two-city concept for

Christchurch should have been given more consideration.

His attitude was that reform had to be selfdetermined and come from the ratepayers themselves, he said.

"I accept that there are benefits to be had from rationalisation, but I believe this particular rationalisation is being done for Labour Party advantage. They have hijacked local government for political purposes.”

The commission was working within Labour Party statutory policy, as outlined in the Local Government AcL The provi-

sions in the act for public say through a poll were “outrageous.”

“It is completely unacceptable that if anyone does not vote in the poll it is counted as a vote in favour. That is not democracy.”

The Local Government Act, section 8, says that 15 per cent of ratepayers in any area affected by restructuring can demand a poll on the proposal. The commission is not obliged to take note of the poll’s results unless 50 per cent of the voters in the total area affected vote against the proposal. It must then reject that proposal and

bring forward an alternative.

The poll is to measure public opposition. It is not an ordinary yes-no vote.

The commission’s chairman, Mr Brian Elwood, promised on Wednesday evening that the commission would take note of the poll result, whatever it was. It wanted to know how people felt and whether their views were based on misinterpretations, he said. Mr Banks said the provisions within the act, which governs the commission’s role, should be changed. It was “highly likely” they would be by aj National Government