COLLEGE COUNCIL VACANCY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28016, 10 July 1956, Page 15

COLLEGE COUNCIL VACANCY

UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF ELECTION Unusual interest surrounds a casual vacancy which has occurred on the Canterbury University College Council in the representation of school committees. School committees’ representation has been abolished in the new constitution of the college council, which has been approved by the council, but which has still to be approved in Wellington and implemented. At present there are three such seats. Last month the college council invoked for the first time in memory a regulation by which a member forfeits his seat if he is absent from three consecutive meetings without leave of absence. The member was Mr R. J. Cooper, a school committees’ representative. Nominations for the vacancy closed yesterday. It is usual for the Canterbury School Committees’ Association to reach informal agreement about candidates and the elections have rarely been contested. Two candidates have now been nominated for this vacancy. The association as such is not taking part in the campaign, although it is pleased with the signs of interest in representation on the council. Those nominated are Mr Ronald Martin Young and Mr William Ernest Olds. Mr Young is a barrister and solicitor. For seven years he has been a member of the Fendalton School Committee, the last five chairman, and he has been a delegate to the School Committees’ Association. He graduated in law from Canterbury College and about 20 years ago was president of the Canterbury College Students’ Association and also of the New Zealand University Students’ Association.

Mr Olds is manager of an insurance company. For many years he was a member of the St. Albans School Committe and is now interested in Richmond. He was president of the Canterbury School Committees’ Association and later he was elected a life member and also served on the Dominion federation. He is deputychairman of the Avonside Girls’ High School Board of Governors. Dominion president of the Justices of the Peace Association, and a member of the Christchurch Fire Board.