2012-07-17 - Te Awamutu Online

8 TE AWAMUTU COURIER, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012
8807536AA
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Electioneering seems to have begun
Pat Bishop’s letter ‘Answer Sought on
Amalgamation Stance’ of July 10 would
seem to indicate that electioneering is
already underway for the council elections
in just over a year.
Firstly, Cr Wilson’s notice of motion to
discuss amalgamation of councils was not
accepted by the committee chairman as per
appropriate meeting procedures. That
decision had nothing to do with the poor
wording of the motion or the sending of
‘‘wrong messages’’, but was entirely on the
basis of standing orders.
Secondly, Mr Bishop seems to infer that
I’m doing some deal with other councils
without the knowledge of my Waipa council.
This is totally incorrect.
For the record, I don’t support amalgamation
for Waipa District. Why would I
when Waipa is the best district in New
Zealand? While Waipa is the Home of
Champions, it is also a Champion Home. As
well, Janet and I have given our total
commitment to our district over the past 17
years and I don’t see why others should cash
in on the special Waipa that has been built.
But, having said that, you can’t keep your
head in the sand as Messrs Bishop and
Wilson would want. Refer back to 1989 and
Te Awamutu and Cambridge Boroughs and
Waipa County were all doing a good job. But
the Local Government Commission determined
that there should be amalgamation
nationwide and from that evolved Waipa
District.
With the current review of local government
there is a strong likelihood that the
Local Government Commission will again
be given strong powers to carry out amalgamations.
Therefore, Waipa has to keep an
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open mind and ensure that if there is any
change forced it is on our terms rather than
us being dictated to.
In the meantime the Waikato Mayoral
Forum, which CE Garry Dyet also attends,
is working towards Waikato councils operating
more cost effectively by collaborating
and investigating the sharing of services
including roading, planning, water and
waste water.
Integral to this it has been agreed by all
mayors that discussions of amalgamation
are not on the agenda.
Importantly, no commitment will be
made by me as mayor. All shared services
are being investigated by the mayors and
their CEs but, democratically, any decisions
will be made by each and every council.
ALAN LIVINGSTON
Waipa District mayor
Threat to democracy
Pat Bishop, in his recent Courier letter,
asks WDC Mayor, Mr Livingston, his stance
on the amalgamation issue. The word
amalgamation rings alarm bells.
Because we are living under capitalism
words as: amalgamation, biggest, mega,
greatest and super etc are popular. For
under capitalism, property is concentrated
in the hands of the few.
Likewise, ruling groups such as local
body councils amalgamate with other
councils, giving power to the hands of the
few.
The abolition of property is the beginning
of slavery. Capitalism concentrates
property, and power, in the hands of the few.
Communism confiscates it all under the
name of — the collectivity. All of these
smack at democracy.
It is time that we all, especially those in
authority, remembered history for we can
learn valuable lessons from it and hopefully,
avoid mistakes of the past.
In view of the above I am interested to
know what our mayor and what others have
to say on the current amalgamation issue.
BARBARA LINTON
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