Councillor claims 'conspiracy intellect' alive

Ruapehu Bulletin, 14 December 1993, Page 4

Councillor claims 'conspiracy intellect' alive

• In response to your article in the 23 November issue regarding the M.T.R.O. grant of $ 1 500 approved at council's meeting on 19 November. Judging by the article and the editor's note at the bottom, it appears that some misguided folk are still determined to believe there is some kind of conspiracy between northern councillors to deprive Ohakune residents of what is rightfully theirs. For the record, and I speak only for myself, I am very supportive of M.T.R.O. and their efforts. They have achieved a tremendous amount in a short time and can be justifiably proud of the results. I am well aware that the original funding came from the Ohakune reserves fund and rightly so too, but regardless of where it comes from, $34,000 is a lot of money to get started with and I'm sure a few local groups would have appreciated some of it for their own schemes. No doubt it' s only a drop in the bucket as far as just how much will be necessary to complete the project, but I am convinced these projects should be self funding and the district's ratepayers shouldn't be expected to do it for them. M.T.R.O. recently requested $10,000 in next year's annual plan ($2,500 was granted) and now a further $ 1 ,500 has been granted. Just where do we stop doling out the whole community's funding? As councillors we are reasonably intelligent and mature individuals who have no problems with the many requests for funding from all over the Ruapehu District. Unfortunately the "conspiracy intellect" is every where and the comments and allegations made in the article are demeaning and totally unnecessary from an otherwise

excellent local newspaper.

Irene

Dempsey

R.D.C. Councillor. Editor's note: I accept your kind words, thank you, but reject your complaints. The article is factual and nowhere refers to any conspiracy. Nor were there allegations of any kind made. The Editor's comment simply reiterated the fact that support for the T.R.A.C. grant was unanimous, while support from five northern councillors was not given for the M.T.R.O. request.