'A unique climate'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 6, 12 July 1983, Page 1

'A unique climate'

A commission of enquiry in 1977 recommended that Waiouru be recognised as having a 'unique climate'! This was endorsed wholeheartedly by last week's committee (as snow fell in Waiouru!) and yet one of the major problems brought to light at the meeting was the question of adequate heating. Despite the commission's 1977 recommendation that continued on page 2

continued from page 1 heating should have a high priority there are still many Defence Department houses without adequate heating . . at a rough estimate only about 25% are adequately heated. However it was possible to get adequate heating on compassionate grounds. The chairman said that he "could not hold out any real hope for a major pro- v gramme of installing sufficient heaters in the current financial year." Mr Maurice Trail contrasted this situation with that of Education Board houses in Waiouru . . they all had adequate heating because the Wanganui Education Board had recognised that Waiouru did have a 'unique climate'. Elections An appeal was made at last week's meeting for people living in Waiouru to corrie forward and offer themselves for next month's election to the Waiouru Community Advisory Com- . mittee. So far only 6 nominations have been received — five from one Ward and 1 from another. As there are 5 Wards in the Waiouru area this means that 3 Wards would be unrepresented on the committee. A total of 13 people are required to make up the committee. . . three by appointment and the remaining ten (2 from each Ward) through elections which are held annually. The three appointed members are the Commander of the ATG (chair-

man), the Community Social Worker (secretary) and the local riding member for the Rangitikei Countv Council. It was decided that the committee should lobby for more nominations before next month's meeting . . . most of the Waiouru community is made up of young families, NCO's and other ranks. It was these people and their opinions that would not be adequately represented on the committee unless they came forward and offered themselves as candidates. The Ward System — the system by which Waiouru is divided. up into areas that should ensure a wide crosssection of different interests such as schools, commerce, Ministry of Works as well as all ranks of military personnel — was designed to represent the whole community but the committee could only work effectively if it had sufficient in-put from all sections of the community in Waiouru. It was decided to display a map of the diffej^k Wards more prominaJP and distribute more information about the role and function of the Community Advisory Committee in order to encourage greater interest and participation in next month's elections. It was also hoped that by changing the venue of the next meeting on Monday 1 August to the supper room of the Community Centre more people would attend.