BY-ELECTIONS FOE COUNCIL

Effect of Mr Sullivan's Elevation SPECULATION IN LABOUR CIRCLES

. If the Mayor, Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., is made a member of the Labour Cabinet there will probably be a by-election not only for his mayoral seat —as was stated in "The Press" oh Saturday—but for two seats on the council. In addition, it is considered highly probable that there will be a by-election at the same time to fill the council seat how occupied by Mr C. E. Jones, who has been absent since his election because of indisposition. This small crop of by-elections depends on Mr Sullivan's elevation to Cabinet, an event which is considered certain. There seems no doubt that if this happens the present Deputy-Mayor, Mr J. W. Beanland, will be a candidate for the mayoralty. In that case he will have to resign his seat on the council and there will be a by-election to fill it. Labour will also have a mayoral nominee, and at the moment the most likely candidate for the party seems Mr J. S. Barnett, a member of the council. If Mr Barnett is nominated another by-election would be necessary to fill his council seat.

Campaign in New Year

But it is practically certain that the elections for -these vacancies, if necessary, will not take place until February at least. An earlier date is not favoured at present by those interested, who naturally have been making tentative plans in the .expectation of a mayoral vacancy. It would probably be an easy matter for Mr Sullivan to withhold his resignation until after Christmas and so delay the date of the by-elections to fit in with the plans of the parties interested.

Mayoral Candidates

It is stated that when Mr Sullivan was asked to stand for the mayoralty by the North Canterbury Labour .Representation Committee, he was told that in the event of Labour winning the general election, and his elevation to the Cabinet, he would be released from the mayoralty. Already there is keen speculation among Labour supporters about likely candidates for the mayoral by-election and the council seats. With that of Mr Barnett, the name of Mr J. K. Archer is being mentioned fpr the mayoral candidature, but it is believed that Mr Archer's responsibilities as chairman of the Christchurch Tramway Board, and his former term as Mayor, would be considerations against his getting the nomination.

Ballot Certain But it is certain that there will be a ballot in the Labour Representation Committee for the nomination, and practical certainties in the ballot at the present moment are Messrs Barnett, Archer, G. Manning, and R. M. Macfarlane. Mr Manning headed the list of defeated Labour councillors in the last municipal elections, and might be given the mayoral nomination on that count, but Mr Macfarlane's good showing in the Christchurch North general election is being advanced as an argument in his favour. For the vacancies which might occur on the council, the names of the defeated Labour candidates in the last municipal election, particularly those of Messrs G. T. Thurston, R. M. Macfarlane, and G. Manning, and Miss Mabel Howard are being mentioned. They were the top four on the list of defeated candidates.