Council-in-exile for Riccarton

Press, 25 May 1989, Page 1

Council-in-exile for Riccarton

RICHARD CRESSWELL and KAY FORRESTER

By

Riccarton residents opposed to amalgamation will elect a Riccarton Borough Council-in-exile ready to take up the reins if a National Government reverses reform next year. The Mayor, Mr Dick Harrington, has agreed to be Mayor-in-exile of the alternative council. Other present Riccarton councillors have yet to be approached by the organ-/ isers of the alternative council. The organisers have called a meeting and march this Saturday in Riccarton to protest against amalgamation. The meeting will be at St Theresa’s Hall, on the corner of Puriri Street and Riccarton Road, at 2.30 p.m. Mr Mark Sadler, a Riccarton resident and protest organiser, said the destination

for the march after the meeting had yet to be decided. The member of Parliament for Marlborough, Mr Doug Kidd, will address Saturday’s meeting and explain National’s policy on amalgamation. Mr Harrington will chair the meeting. Mr Sadler said leaflets advertising the meeting had been distributed throughout the borough. The leaflet gives results of a poll conducted by Mr Kidd in Marlborough. It says 96 per cent of Marlborough residents surveyed opposed amalgamation of the region with neighbouring Nelson. “We may not be able to stop amalgamation from going ahead, but we hope to persuade the National Government to reverse it next year when it is elected,” Mr Sadler said. “It is shocking amalgamation goes

through no matter wnat tne people warn. The present system works perfectly well,” he said. The council-in-exile would be elected just before amalgamation went through. “The council-in-exile will remain until democracy is restored,” he said. “We also hope it will keep the issue alive between the interim period of local government elections and Government elections,” he said. Mr Sadler said a poll would be conducted in Riccarton nearer amalgamation. ' Mr Harrington said: “I am quite happy. to be part of any (activity) to benefit Riccarton.” He believed there was a real chance the council-in-exile could be called on to take office. “We’ll be waiting in the wings,” Mr Harrington said.