Protest over climate project appointment

Press, 23 February 1989, Page 3

Protest over climate project appointment

The appointment of Dr Neil Cherry to head an investigation into the effects of climate changes on Canterbury’s farm production has angered some Canterbury United Council members. Councillors claimed that Dr Cherry would be using ratepayers’ money to prove his own theories about the “greenhouse effect.” .

The council, along with the North Canterbury Catchment Board, has been asked to contribute $9OOO towards the $60,000 cost of the research project.

Dr Cherry’s employer, the natural resource engineering department at Lincoln College, is paying half. More funds are expected to be given by the Aorangi United Council, the South Canterbury Catchment Board and Selwyn Plantation Board.

Two” councillors, John Chaffey and Bill Thompson, believed Dr Cherry should not be in charge of the project. Cr Chaffey said, “We have a man (Dr Cherry)

who says he’s got the answer and now he seems to think he’s going to go out and prove it with our money.”

Cr Thompson said, “(Dr Cherry) is a character who can’t make up his mind if he’s a scientist or a politician and his predictions this year have been almost 100 per cent inaccurate.”

Dr Cherry was the unsuccessful Labour candidate for Fendalton in 1987.

"Farmers have got to trust the results of this research and I wonder whether they have trust in this man,” Cr Chaffey said.

The council’s chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, called for the research team to include Ministry of Agriculture staff who had worked successfully with the council before.

The deputy chairman, Cr Trevor Inch, hoped the research would have an “end product” and not just a "philosophical approach as to whether or not there is or is not a greenhouse effect.”

The council’s chief executive, Mr Malcolm Douglass, defended Dr Cherry’s position and added there were other members of the research team,, including himself, who would ensure a balanced study. Cr Alex Clark rebuked the councillors speaking against Dr Cherry. Their attacks were the Canterbury "tall poppy” chopping machine. Wasp scheme Combating wasps should be a local’ body responsibility said Canterbury United councillors, before agreeing to contribute.

The council was asked to contribute $2750 to a D.S.I.R. project aimed at controlling wasp populations.

-The D.S.I.R. will use a parasite that is harmless to humans and other species like honey bees, to reduce wasp numbers.

The council agreed to fund the programme but councillors argued that the cost should be met by district councils.