THE DRAINAGE BOARD

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21960, 8 December 1936, Page 8

THE DRAINAGE BOARD

TWO vacancies

LIKELY

QUALIFICATION LOST JJJ

MEMBERS

re-election necessary

It is likely that a by-electies be necessary shortly to vacancies on the Christchurch iw* age Board, caused by two —Messrs T. H. Butterfield andllt W. Winter—aaving lost their 15. dential qualification for Mr Butterfield stated last that he had already resign; the board, and it is understood Mr Winter will have to follow example. Both are Labour Mr Winter was returned Christchurch South-West sub-dafe? at the election last January, ands Butterfield was elected for the Heathcote sub-distriet » March, to fill the vacancv cacseiC the death of Mr R. Carter. '

Mr C. F. Champion, secretarr the board, would make no oiicai statement yesterday, but coafc~. tion of the position, however, was aceived in other directions.

Mr R. M. Macfarlane. secretary® the North Canterbury Labour sentation Committee, said that although his committee had not c*. sidered the matter he understood* was correct that Messrs and Winter had lost their qaalifc. tion to occupy seats on the board. | could be assumed that if they haia resign the Labour party would fattest both seats at the by-electka. Balance of Power

; Officials of the Christchurch Gts- ■ zens’ Association would not conaaE ; on the position, but it is profaahe i that any by-election would be cat- ; tested by both the Labour party xi ] the Citizens' Association, for theaj signation of two Labour mp»nW. . must affect the balance of powce | the board. At present Labour heft i six seats, and Citizens five, and a* is held by an independent. At & ; board election in January T-ahny gained three seats and became & . strongest party on the board. : It has been suggested in TjW ! circles that one or both the pn«wih»p« i concerned may obtain qualincatie other than residential, entitlingtte ! to retain their seats on the board, 1 is doubtful, however, whether a br- | election can be avoided in this | the view having been expressed Hat ! loss of qualification ; terminates membership of the hard.