Borough finally accepts clause

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 21, 28 October 1987, Page 2

Borough finally accepts clause

The Raetihi Borough Council objected to the wording of Clause 13 of the Provisional Reorganisation Scheme at their monthly meeting last week. The clause relates to amalgamation of the three local authorities to take effect next April. The borough's objection concerns the limitation placed on the period of time the authorities' financial divisions may remain in place. At present the clause states that the divisions exist for not less than six years and no longer than nine years, as the District Council may by special order determine. Waimarino County and

Ohakune Borough had previously agreed with the clause. It was the feeling of the Borough that the District Council should be allowed to determine how long the financial divisions remain in place and no limitation be placed on the time period. Cr Tom Punch suggested a suitable time period might be 99 years instead of nine years and said that the decision should be left to the governing authorities. The council had previously objected to the suggestion that divisions remain for a minimum of four years, which was later amended to six years. Cr John Compton said that the Local Government Commission sent a letter in April of this year and

were in agreement on all points raised by the council. Mr Compton said the original letter stated that the divisions exist "for a period of three years or such longer period of time as the District Council may by special order determine." Mr Compton said the latest statement from the commission is now contrary to the Act. Council met with representatives of the other amalgamating authorities last week at a steering committee meeting which was attended by an official of the commission and finally accepted the suggestion that a limitation of nine years be placed on the divisions, "as the District Council may by special order determine".