Board discusses advt

Press, 13 July 1988, Page 9

Board discusses advt

By

JANE DUNBAR

A television advertisement may have caused embarrassment to two Christchurch Drainage Board staff members. The board was asked last month to participate in a television advertisement for the herbicide, Roundup. A board committee which met on June 14 recommended that the board’s civil maintenance officer, Mr Ross Lightfoot, take part.

When the board met on June 29, however, the decision was reversed. Meanwhile, Mr Lightfoot had already flown to Wellington and taken part in the advertisement. He was paid a performer’s fee and signed a contract. The appearance fee of $5OO was paid into the board’s funds.

Some members at yesterday’s operations, services and staffing committee meeting expressed concern that the board was involved with the ad-

vertisement, and that a staff member had acted against a board decision. “Board staff can do what they like as individuals, but not when they are acting under the board’s name,” said Mr Rex Arbuckle. Mrs Angela Johnson suggested the board could be in trouble if Roundup was later found to have harmful effects. The chief engineer, Mr Peter Hunt, said the board used Roundup extensively. Mr Hunt apologised to

board members for the mistake. After the original committee support for the idea, he had told Mr Lightfoot he could go ahead with arrangements. Inquiries were being made as to whether the board could withdraw from the advertisement and what costs that would involve, he said. The board’s solicitors did not envisage the advertisement would cause any future legal problems.