One-city talks adjourn

Press, 15 October 1986, Page 9

One-city talks adjourn

Conciliation talks on the Local Government Commission’s one-city proposal were adjourned yesterday until October 21. The conciliator, Mr Doug Pearson, said after yesterday’s talks that there were still some matters yet to be discussed by himself and the four metropolitan Christchurch councils.

Yesterday was the second day of conciliation talks after a three-week break.

A further adjournment was likely after next

week's meeting to allow participating councillors to report back to their councils, said Mr Pearson. He would not comment on matters discussed at the talks. The Heathcote County Chairman, Mr Oscar Alpers and the Mayor of Riccarton, Mr Richard Harrington, both said that progress had been made in yesterday’s talks.

“We seem to be starting to talk on the same wavelength,” said Mr Harrington. “I think the talks were probably a little

more progressive than they have been up to date — nobody has shifted their position, but we are discussing matters. “We have now got to the stage where we have to go back to our own councils and consider our own positions.” The Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, said the discussions were being held in a constructive, amicable fashion. “It remains to be seen where where we go from next week — we have still a few items to discuss.”

The Waimairi District Chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, described the talks as most amicable. The conciliator had created a “very good atmosphere” but from Waimairi’s point of view it was opposed to the proposal and was there only “in case the Government forces the proposal on us.”

“I don’t really see that next week will be the end of it — we will be reporting back to our various councils,” Mrs Murray said.