Chch city talks adjourned

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 9

Chch city talks adjourned

Christchurch city amalgamation talks have been adjourned a month while the newly-elected councils get progress reports. Representatives of the Christchurch, Waimairi, Riccarton, and Heathcote councils met for 3'/> hours yesterday with the conciliator, Mr Doug Pearson, before adjourning to November 18. He described the meeting as amicable and said some progress had been made during this third session of talks. But some of the councils have new members and the councillors at the talks wanted to report back before the next round.

The agenda was finished before the meeting ended at midday. The Waimairi District

Council’s chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, acknowledged that some progress had been made but said major policy issues remained to be discussed. The session covered rating issues, district community councils, the formation of a transition committee, and members’ rights. Waimairi opposes the amalgamation proposal and has attended the talks in case the Government forces amalgamation to go ahead. The talks were “reasonably constructive” but she was anxious to report to the council, Mrs Murray said. “It is important to get the council involved and aware of where we are at right now,” she said.