LOCAL BODY POLICIES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25362, 9 December 1947, Page 3

LOCAL BODY POLICIES

PROPOSAL TO CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION

“ OUTSIDE INSTRUCTIONS ” OPPOSED

A proposal by Mr A. R. Guthrey that a policy committee should be appointed found no support at the annual meeting last evening of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association, the president (Mr A. S. Taylor) saying that the association had never interfered with its candidates once they were elected. Mr J. E. Tait opposed the proposal and said those elected should be free to act according to their judgment, and Mr G. D. Griffiths emphasised the danger of outside instructions and recalled that when a Labour council was in office decisions were made “round, the corner.”

“The results obtained in the 1947 elections may be considered entirely satisfactory, not cnly in our own city but, almost without exception, over the whole of New Zealand,” said Mr H. A. C. North, chairman of the general committee, in his report. “Once again the electors have shown that they do not want local body affairs dominated by national politics.” As in the past, attendances at meetings were very poor and it was quite apparent that the general public did not want to listen to speeches on local body affairs. The tragic fire on November 18 was the main reason why the poll was such a small one.

“It has been a tradition of British communities that they should govern themselves,” said Mr Taylor. “Parliament should give them powers and leave* them alone. Local municipal affairs should not be linked up with national political affairs of the day.” Officers elected were:—president, Mr A. S. Taylor; vice-presidents, Sir Hugh Acland, Mrs G. H. Watts, Messrs E. H. Andrews, S. G. Holland, M.P., H. G. Livi> gstone, M. E. Lyons, W. S. MacGibbon, J. H. Rhodes, and D. Rowse; honorary treasurer Mr E. H. S. Hamilton; honorary auditor, Mr J. W. K. L-.wrence.

Of the general committee, of 40, 20 retired by rotation and the following were elected:—Messrs W. J. Cowles, H. A. C. North, A. R. Guthrey, W. H. Down, F. L. Brandt, H. P. Donald, F. W. Freeman, R. G. Brown, C. C. Holland, J. N. Clarke, J. L. Hay, V C. Lawn G. D. Griffiths, W. Machin, j. E. Tait, D. S. Murchison, L. G. Amos, W. B Owen, M. O’Brien, C. D. W. L. Sheppard. Mrs Watts said it was time it was realised that the association was a Power in the city. The association should have its own rooms and an effort would be made to raise funds by a garden party. The support of male members was necessary.