REGIONAL PLANNING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22313, 24 April 1947, Page 6

REGIONAL PLANNING

COST TO_COUNCIL CONTRIBUTION ASKED SOME COMMENT MADE A request by the Gisborne-East Coast Regional Planning Council that the Gisborne Borough Council shou d contribute its portion of £6O towards the cost of the planning council met with some comment at Tuesday night's meeting ot the Gisborne Borough Council. The secretary ol the planning council advised to at all local bodies in me district had been asked to contribute towards the cost. £250, of the council. Of this sum the Government contributed £fa2 10s. The council s representative on the planning council. Dr. A. L. Singer, explained that the council had been set up by the Government and had then been handed to local bodies lo administer The £250 requested was probabiy the only payment which would be needed, and this was to cover expenses for a part-time secretary and stationery, etc. Other local bodies in the district had indicated their willingness to contribute towards the cost. There was a shortage of labour and materials, said Dr. Singer, and the planning council had been set up to investigate which works should come first. The planning councils in other parts of New Zealand had been working well, and the Gisborne Council was now getting started. Varying Views Expressed Mr. G. J Jeune was emphatic that the borough was not even able to provide ordinary amenities oy its expenditure, and it was being criticised tor tnat reason. The GisDorne-t,ast Coast Regional Planning Council was just anotner body to which moneymust be paid by tne council, with lithe results. The Government had set up the Regional Planning Council a.. . had then handed it on to the local bodies and magnanimously given 25 per cent, ol the costs. He wished his vote to be recorded against any motion for the payment oi the council's share. Mr. Jeune's views were supported by • Mr. H. H De Costa. Mr. M. o. White disagreed with the views expressed oy Air. jeune, ana stated that the purpose ol tne Regiuiiai Planning Couiizil was lo recommend ■' to the Works Department those worxs { throughout the district which required priority. With the scarcity of labour and material at present, u was neces- , sary to have priorities and that was 5 the main purpose of the planning '} council. I* Unless Gisborne supported the plan-"' ning council he considered that tins *• district would remain the Cinderella of the country. Mr. it. Morse supported Mr. Whites remarks, stating that the limited materials must be used to the best advantage. Mr. 1. J. Quigley felt that if the council had been left alone it could have, done the necessary works even-' tually, but as the planning council had been set up. the council should support it, and get all the benefits possible from it. The Mayor, Air. N. PI. Bull, was also of the opinion that the council should make use of the planning council now it had been set up It was decided that the payment should be made oy the council. The votes of Messrs. Jeune and Da Costa were recorded against the motion.