Busker to sing out against licence fee

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 3

Busker to sing out against licence fee

A Rangiora man intends to entertain the crowds at New Brighton today in defiance of a Christchurch City Council ordinance on busking. Mr Peter Scott said that he would sing and play his guitar and banjo without a busker’s licence. His girlfriend and her two children would ' join him. The director of environmental health for the council, Mr David Batten, said that a warden working for the council on contract would be at New Brighton and would report to the council if he saw the group performing. Mr Scott said that he objected not so much to having to get a licence, but to the fee of $l2 a month, irrespective of how many days a busker was active. That would amount to $144 a year if a busker entertained every

month, he said. Mr Batten said that he had advised Mr Scott to make submissions to the council. The officers were merely carrying out council policy. The fee had been set some years ago and in April would rise to $l5 a month. The council had about 60 sites in the city at which a busker could perform. Licences were granted on the condition that the busker did not cause a nuisance to people living or working in the area. Mr Batten said that at any one time there could be up to six licensed buskers in the city. Mr Scott said that he did not depend on busking for a living, but enjoyed entertaining. He had played and sung in cities in Australia and in Auckland and could earn up to $2O in an hour.