Congratulations, but...

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 233, 1 March 1988, Page 4

Congratulations, but...

Congratulations o n your new format Bulletin. A splendid effort indeed and to the credit of all involved. Certainly the first edition gives promise of excellent coverage of the news, the views and the affairs of our town and district. Your coverage of the issues of the local authority amalgamation was excellent and can only help local people

gain a better perspective of something that is almost upon us and will, undoubtedly, have some affect on all of us. I trust you will not object to my pointing out a couple of slight inaccuracies in your reporting on this topic. Firstly, t h e amalgamation Steering

Committee meeting you reported is certainly not the first such meeting to be covered by the press. Almost all meetings in regard to amalgamation have been open to the press and, earlier in the process, received extensive press coverage. It is true to say that, over three or more years of negotiation the press tended, unfortunately, to lose interest in covering these meetings. I should also point out that on one or two occasions your paper has also actually failed to cover the statutory

monthly meetings o f the Ohakune Borough. Secondly, the invitation to candidates in the upcoming election to attend the meeting of the Steering Committee was at my instigation and issued solely in order that these people get an insight into the issues before some of them may be elected. Likely press attendance at the particular meeting was not a factor. Personally, I have always thought all council meetings should be very fully open to press and public. Indeed, I have frequently invited people to attend the meetings of this Borough.

William

Taylor

Mayor