Raetihi councillors insist on amalgamation formula

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 14, 2 September 1986, Page 2

Raetihi councillors insist on amalgamation formula

The Raetihi Borough Council made clear its stand on the outstanding issue of amalgamation at their meeting last Wednesday night, with a final vote for 5-3-3 representation. Amalgamation has been a bone of contention among the three bodies involved for some time. The representation formula was tentatively set at five councillors for Waimarino County Council. four for Ohakune Borough and three for Raetihi Borough. Raetihi councillors decided this was unacceptable and wanted equal representation with Ohakune. Deputy Mayor John Compton said that he hoped Ohakune would agree on a 5-3-3 representation but expressed concern that Raetihi would "come out at the bottom of the pile." He told councillors hat representation was decided by considering factors such as population, rateable land value and rates collected. However he said that not enough consideration was given to the financial situation of Raetihi Borough when such things as rates and water were looked at. Cr Tom Punch told the meeting that the amalgamation "has got to be of benefit to the district", and said that the problem was Ohakune being "too distant."

"Ohakune is prepared to concede on election issues but are not prepared to concede on representation," he said. Cr Andrew Cornwall reconfirmed his decision not to stand again for council. "1 will not stand again while there are tin-pot authorities concerned, and the attitudes of many leave me quite cold," he said. "It has drifted on with procrastination from some involved, yet when asked people seem to be clear of the benefits of amalgamation." "The benefits have been reiterated time and time again, and are not just monetary. We have three authorities with a total of 27 members administering the needs of 4500 people, the logic being used to justify shares in a mythical cake," he said. Cr Cornwall stated that the three authorities could not sit down and deal with

the issue in a adult manner and he thought the matter had deteriorated over the last few months. Mayor Garrick Workman agreed that the matter had gone on long enough and was "crazy". Cr Compton voiced concern that the three councils could not reach a decision. "We all agreed to 5-3-3 originally, and then Ohakune upset the apple-cart by asking for a 5-4-3. That was in consideration when it was suggested that representation should change to 6-4-3 which is absolutely unacceptable," he said. The councillors voted in their final standing of 5-3-3, in equal representation with Ohakune. The Waimarino County Council last week resolved that a joint meeting of the three council should be called to further consider the representation issue.