‘Need to foster growth’

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 25

‘Need to foster growth’

The need for local authorities to foster industrial and business growth should not be restrained within each council’s

boundaries, the Paparua County Council heard this week.

Cr J. S. M. Kyle said that while Paparua County should be doing everything in its power to stimulate growth and help keep industries in the area, it should also step beyond its boundaries.

The council will write to the Christchurch City Council offering its help in any growth initiatives under discussion.

“The problem of business decline is not confined in one area and anything we can do to help greater Christchurch or Canterbury will ultimately benefit the whole community,” he said.

Cr E. C. Britnell had raised the matter, noting that Paparua County had a third of the industrial land in metropolitan Christchurch and should therefore offer its help to any initiatives to keep or attract industry. The chairman, Mr J. Y. Pethig, said the problem in councils offering raterebate inducements to new industry was that

existing business also demanded similar concessions.

Cr D. J. W. Hampton told the council that the

industrial decline in the district in the last two months had been more rapid than the Government appreciated.