Donations
We have been told that the Timaru District Council and Aoraki Development Business and Tourism have been doing a marvellous job in caring for the Christchurch earthquake victims and if this is so then we commend them. We have also been told that the District Council have decided to make 2 donations totally $100,000 the help the Christchurch earthquake victims. It sounds a very generous gesture by the councillors but they have not used their own money to do it they have in effect put a compulsory charge on our rates. What also concerns me about these donations is that the compulsory charge on our rates is not going directly to the earthquake victims. The councillors are paying it to themselves because the Christchurch City Council and Aoraki Development Business Tourism are both local government owned organisations free to spend any donated money on whatever they like.
Incentives
We know that many people are leaving Christchurch to set up business in other towns and one would of thought that it would make much more sense if the Council were to use the $100,000 to give incentives to Christchurch business owners who are prepared to set up business in Timaru. The flow on effect of such a move would create jobs and relieve the burden many people.
Don’t get me wrong I am not opposed to giving donations to charity but I am opposed to other people using my money to give donations to themselves.
