National body to co-ordinate action against forced amalgamation

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 2

National body to co-ordinate action against forced amalgamation

A national organisation to co-ordinate action against forced amalgamation of local bodies was formed at a meeting in Wellington yesterday. The new body, a coalition of regional groups, is called Communities ‘Against Forced Amalgamation (N.Z.). Delegates representing more than 30 municipalities and counties elected Mr Charles Bagnall, of the Eastbourne Borough Council, as the national co-ordina-tor of the organisation. Those at the meeting included the Mayor of Riccarton, Mr Richard Harrington, the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr Fred Thomas, the Mayor of Northcote, Mrs Jean Sampson, and the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr David Lumsden. “The initial aim of the new organisation is the co-ordination and the dissemination of Information about the attitude of the ‘Minister against local government,’ Dr Bassett, and his Local Government Commission’s hounding of local authorities throughout New Zealand into forced amalgamations,” Mr Bagnall said. “A welllng-up of public support from communities under threat from the Government’s commission has prompted the founding of C.A.F.A.” Mr Bagnall said every

municipality and county in New Zealand would be invited to join the new organisation through six regional groupings. The national body is a co-ordinating one, feeding Information to the regional councils. Mr Harrington, chairman of the CanterburyWestland regional coalition, said yesterday’s meeting achieved its aim of a national body to act as a combined voice for councils. He expected about 80 per cent of councils would join the organisation. “We are in a position to say to the Government that this matter concerns a great number of people,” he said. The Canterbury-West-land group was at present planning its strategy, Mr Harrington said. The conciliator appointed by the commission for Christchurch was organising meetings with the individual councils in August The national body hoped to meet again before the local body elections in October, he said.