Enterprises take-over 'a distant hope’
A take-over of Canterbury’s regional trading enterprises by the United Council is now a distant hope, the council says. The council’s proposed take-over of functions like the port, airport, transport and electricity supply may be as far as 10 years off, Mrs Margaret Murray said.
She was reacting to comments from United Councillor and Christchurch City Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, that the airport and port had moved to stifle the council’s attempt to control them.
The United Council has recently considered changing to a directlyelected council and including trustee control of ad hoc authorities and trading enterprises as part of a new council’s powers. “The regional trading enterprises plan should not be thrown out the window,” she said. “The United Council should look to implementing it sometime in the future.” She gave 10 years as a rough guide.
Another report by council staff will be presented to the council meeting in December on the future of plans to run those enterprises on a trustee basis.
Most councillors have expressed accord with the recent regional futures seminar where the Minister of Local Government, Dr Bassett, gave the council tacit approval for moving to a directly-elected direct-rating authority.
Dr Bassett said then a move towards a regional council was right. However, he warned against a partly-elected and partlyappointed format. That was a “timid second best.”
The council will hold talks with the North Canterbury Catchment Board to see if the two authorities can join forces.
Councillors were unanimous speedy action was needed considering Dr Bassett’s comments that if united councils did not restructure the Government may legislate change on them.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19871128.2.52
Bibliographic details
Press, 28 November 1987, Page 7
Word Count
273Enterprises take-over 'a distant hope’ Press, 28 November 1987, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in