Amalgamation is biggest issue facing Waimairi

Press, 16 September 1986, Page 36

Amalgamation is biggest issue facing Waimairi

The threat of amalgamation is the biggest issue facing the Waimairi District and those who wish to be elected to the council.

All candidates believe a forced amalgamation with Christchurch City is not in the best interests of Waimairi or the ratepayers.

Most disagree with the way the proposed amalgamation of Christchurch local bodies has been imposed on the district. Sitting councillors are upset that their proposal for two cities in Christchurch was passed over by the Local Government Commission

in favour of a single city. Although Waimairi seems to have dug in its heels against what might be considered an inevitability, delaying the process until after next year’s General Election might bring reprieve if a National Government were to be elected. National has a policy of leaving the organisation of local government alone.

Present councillors also drew hope from a vote by residents in Southland against proposed amalgamation there.

The amalgamation issue might also be why there is

not the formal Labour Party line-up of candidates promised during the 1983 elections. A Labour candidate in Waimairi would find winning votes difficult while the party actively supports amalgamation.

Amalgamation has also highlighted the issue of leadership of the District Council.

The present chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, faced a vote of no confidence in her leadership because some councillors thought she had “thrown in the towel” in the fight against amalgamation. Mrs Murray denied this

and said tbat she had always been a strong opponent of amalgamation.

The issue of leadership has been highlighted by the candidacy of Mr Barry Rich for the Belfast Riding. Mr Rich had been the chairman of Waimairi for many years before being defeated at the last election, which followed major changes in the boundaries of the ridings.

If he won the Belfast Riding, which traditionally chooses candidates who have lived in and been part of the semirural community for many years, Mr Rich

could launch a serious challenge to Mrs Murray’s chairmanship.

Fluoridation of the Waimairi water supply was a hotly-contested issue until late last year when the council decided a referendum should be taken. Voters in Waimairi will be asked to decide whether fluoridating the water should continue, at the same time as voting for council representatives. The result of the referendum should be announced on October 11, the same day the new council will be announced.