Debate upsets Mayor

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 245, 8 June 1988, Page 3

Debate upsets Mayor

The following is a report on Waimarino Mayor Garrick Workman's statement to the full council meeting on Monday May 30.

In his speech Mr Workman criticizes councillors for the way they debated the rates issue, and the Bulletin for the way we reported the debate. "I must confess I am concerned, in fact annoyed at the way discussion is going. "Now I would never attempt to muzzle any councillor, rather I encourage different viewpoints to be expressed, however I am going to come down hard in future on comments of the sorts I will mention now. Tm talking about the 'hijacking of rural funds' comment," said Mayor Workman. "It was gleefully reported by the Bulletin. It was incorrect. It was inflammatory and therefore damaging when published in this maxmer," he said. "In this instance it lead to, in the minds of rural people, a very wrong impression o f what happened, and does nothing to help break down the feeling of mistrust perhaps be-

tween rural and urban over funding. "We have an obligation as a council to be open certainly and to debate the issue fairly and certainly emphasize our point, but I think we must be careful in future when we make remarks of this sort." "I also issue a challenge to the press. I believe they have an obligation in this regard as well, and I was less than impressed with the coverage the Bulletin gave on our rating issue." "I felt the rates increases as proposed were fair and reasonable and yet we get a heading, a great big splurge 'rates up' as if the damn things were going up 20, 30 or 40 per cent when in fact I believe it is a very fair increase. "I was quoted as using my casting vote when in fact I voted, as I am entitled to do, believe it or not, along with council on the issue. "So I believe the press while they must be factual in their reporting certainly could

assist when it comes to contentious matters of this kind. "They should give us a fair go," said Mayor Workman.