OUR VIEW

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

OUR VIEW

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, right? Wrong. At least not according to Waimarino District Mayor Garrick Workman. His attempt at last week's council meeting to muzzle both councillors and the Press deserves special attention. In our view, Mr Workman is out of order. He has no right to prevent councillors from speaking out, no matter how outspoken or "emotional" they may be. His job is to chair or manage discussion and debate, not to dictate the terms by which it takes place. Nor to restrict or stifle it. The same applies to ourselves, the Press. Our job is primarily to report accurately what is said and done at council meetings. It is disquieting that Mr Workman should want us to "play down" certain things. In our view, a deeision to increase rates by 1.8 to 8.3 per cent perfectly warrants the heading "Rates up". Rates rises of 20, 30 and 40 per cent when inflation is running at 8 to 9 per cent would more appropriately draw headings such as "Rates skyrocket", "Rates in orbit" or "Ratepayers hijacked." For the Mayor to castigate the rest of our reporting on this year's rating discussions is also alarming. We went to considerable trouble to thoroughly report the key issues, probably in more depth than ever before. To say we should ignore the fact that some councillors disagreed with others over the use of county or rural ward funds is foolish. There was dissension at the first rates meeting and, in fact, there was dissension in the meeting last week after Mr Workman made his speech. Mayor Workman says he encourages different viewpoints then criticises people for the way they express their views. Democracy is all about healthy debate and this was a good example, albeit a little emotive. For Mr Workman to say he is annoyed when debate occurs is worrying. For him to get annoyed when we don't gloss over such debate is also worrying.