THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24269, 29 May 1944, Page 4

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

COMMENT BY jCITIZENS’ CHAIRMAN “REMOVING POLITICS FROM MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS” "The results are an expression of the people's decision to remove politics from municipal affairs," said Mr A. J. Scott, chairman of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association, when asked by “The Press" to comment on the municipal elections. “It is realised that the Citizens’ Association nominees will administer the affairs of local bodies in the interests of the community as a whole without sectional bias. . ... “The Mayoral result is most gratifying to those who know and appreciate the immense amount of work done by Mr Andrews during his first term, and is a worthy tribute both to himself and to the Mayoress, Miss Couzins. . . "The return of 14 or 15 Citizens councillors is an expression of conftdence in our forward policy as well as a pleasing endorsement .of the efforts of the Citizens’ council in the last three years. The electors are to be congratulated on returning to the Catchment Board four members ot outstanding ability. “At the moment it appears that Mr Barnett may not be re-elected to the City Council, and this would be regretted by many who have never voted for him. It is not, of course, a personal reflection, but part of the general reaction from what we have called outside domination. Our members. old and new, of the various local bodies, know that much will be expected of them, and they can be relied on to give of their best in disinterested service.” LABOURJCOMMENT SECTION OF WORKERS SHARPLY CRITICISED The lethargy and indifference of a section of Labour supporters in Christchurch was commented unon by the president of the Labour Representation Committee (Mr John Roberts), in a statement to “The Press” last night, in referring to the set-back his party had experienced in the municipal elections. “1 would like," said Mr Roberts, “to congratulate the Citizens’ Association on its success at the polls. While it is not possible to agree with some of the statements made by our opponents, the contest was fought in good snirit and there was an absence of unpleasant incidents. "If it is considered that we lost votes through our advocacy of a municipal milk supply and municipal housing, I would like to say that we would rather lose the election on issues of that kind than win it on a colourless vote-catching policy. * “It appears to me that a section of the workers liave become indifferent and indolent as a result of the improved standard of living during the last few years. 1 think it was Napoleon who said, ‘An army marches on its stomach.’ Well, some of the workers of Christchurch are apparently thinking through their stomachs. It will apparently need another depression to bring them to their senses again. “One disturbing feature was the large number of electors who failed to go to the poll. Without having the actual figures before me, I believe that approximately 40.000 electors of Christchurch alone failed to exercise their franchise on Saturday—this at a time when New Zealand, in common with other Allied nations, is engaged in a grim fight for the democratic way of life, the right to govern themselves. In spite of the wax - , a large number of people are not even interested enough to perform the simple act of voting. At the same time I wish to express our deep appreciation of the scores of workers of all ages and sexes who trudged miles in the rain, calling on the electors at their homes, trying to persuade them to vote.” MAYOR AND NEW COUNCILLORS MR ANDREWS’S LONG SERVICE Mr E. H. Andrews, re-elected Mayor, has a record of service on public bodies equalled by few men in New Zealand. He was a member of the Christchurch City Council continuously for 22 years before his election to the mayoralty in 1941, so that his association with the council now covers a quarter of a century. The son of a Nelson pioneer. Mr Andrews was born at Nelson in 1873, and he received his education at public schools in Canterbury and at Canterbury College. For 18 years Mr Andrews was a teacher in primary and secondary schools, but he abandoned this profession to go into the printing business, founding the firm of Andrews, Baty and Company. He was a member of the Canterbury Education Board for 18 years and has been a member and chairman of the Town Planning Board for many years. He served for long terms on the Christchurch Fire Board, the Christchurch Tramway Board, and other bodies. Durxng his term as Mayor he has had the heavy task of dealing with a wide variety of problems arising from the war. Among the most onerous of these was the E.P.S. organisation. Last year Mr Andrews began a movement for periodical conferences of South Island local body representatives with the object of promoting the interests of the south. The Mayoress, his niece, Miss E. Couzins, has been a noted worker in patriotic and- welfare organisations. Mr L. G. Amos, a furniture manufacturer and retailer, has played a prominent part in the administration of the Canterbury Rugby League, and in his playing days was a Canterbury League representative. He has been associated with boxing and wrestling. Mr A, R. Guthrey, who won the Military Cross in the Middle East, where he was commissioned in the field, contested the Christchurch South electorate at the General Election against Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P. He is managing director of a firm of customs and shipping agents. ‘ Aged 28, he is the youngest member of the new council. Mr J. L. Hay, who lopped the poll, has been prominent in national savings and patriotic efforts during the war years. In the last war he was created an officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services in charge of the Young Men’s Christian Association war work with the .New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France. He is president of the Christchurch Young Men’s Christian Association. Mr J. E. Tait, the fourth new councillor, retired from the Sumner mayoralty at this election. He was president of the Suburban Local Bodies Association and is a member of the Municipal Association executive. He is a member of the Metropolitan Zoning Committee. His chief business interests are in the direction of large building contracts.