Political pamphlets printed—Cr Fahey

Press, 26 August 1986, Page 11

Political pamphlets printed —Cr Fahey

Political pamphlets were being printed by the Christchurch City Council’s community services division, Cr Morgan Fahey alleged last evening.

The pamphlets had been printed for the South City rates meeting on August 16 as part of the division’s service to neighbourhood groups. They were copies of the motions to be put at that meeting and included motions of noconfidence in the council and in him as a South

Ward councillor. “They were political papers. I would like to know who gave permission for political papers to be printed in this office,” he said.

He defended his inability to attend the rates meeting because he was working in Rotorua. He had listened to ratepayers and was sympathetic to their needs, he said. All Citizens’ councillors were sympathetic, he said. A great deal had been said about them

being insensitive to residents’ needs, which was untrue.

He appealed to Labour councillors and ratepayers at last evening’s meeting not to make a political issue of such a “vital matter.” “We need to sort out a fairer system for all. We can’t do that with political pressure being brought,” he said. The rating system needed overhauling nation-wide, Cr Fahey said. The rating system was “in a mess.”