Reform bill welcomed and reviled

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 3

Reform bill welcomed and reviled

The Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, welcomed yesterday the local government reform measures outlined in the Local Government Amendment Bill introduced in Parliament ion Tuesday evening. I P i

i I “No doubt there will be some howls of protest about the survey provisions we wiped, but it will ; allow things to! happen. Wd have been 'subjected to) all sorts of i delaying | tactics in Christchurch,” he said. I i The . bill ] would ' strengthen the powers of ■ the Local . Government Commission to) impose \ binding ’ reorganisation ( and would do away with ■) ; the conciliation', survey ■ and objection procedures. ' Sir Hamish said the bill . i still promised local bodies ( ' their say. ■<)) • | ; ‘[‘The intention' of the . ' legislation ' is (to have ; things in place!. by the j 1989' elections. I. under- i ; stand survey provisions may be reinstated later.” ; Opposition , assertions '■ that the bill is totalitarian ( have been called non-'! ' sense by the Minister of Local Government, Dr • j Bassett. '•( [ / ! Such comments merely .

showed the Opposition’s, inability, to understand the simplest of bills, he said. - . i 1 J : I ■ : ' The bill' strengthened the Local Government Commission's ■ powers ■ to bring about amalgamation, but the commission had told local, bodies that they would (be widely consulted. ' “The bill obliges the commission to. do SO.” .. j ' Dr Bassett said that the commissionl’s chairman. Mr Brian : Elwood, had promised public hearings in affected areas and would take submissions from local bodies, and other interested | parties before bringing down di (scheme.- I ! The consultative groups 'Of the Local Government Association would also have direct access to the Cabinet committee hand-* ling the reform. | .? ■ ‘“This is unprecedented' access to the highest level

of policy-making,’’[said Dr Bassett.! -] ' I - ( | The Opposition member for Fen'dalton. Mr Philip Burden,j described (the bill as I, “dictatorial i government by. edict” with only a token; pretence (at consultation. |! ! ! The (knell had been sounded I for Riccarton Borough,’ h Waimairi District and Heathcote County, he said. (' . ! “No-one opposes reform, but reform introduced by this type of device is totally unacceptable." 1 ij ; The bill would promote large impersonal groupings ! and! its inevitable result would be the introduction i of ’ party (politics into local government, he said. - ( (| : I ( | The Opposition member 'for Rahgiora, (Mr Jim Gerard] said | that the bill was ) totalitarian, completely objectionable, and threatened the base of democracy. I ' : :■ I !