Cr. GUTHREY’S POSITION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29162, 24 March 1960, Page 12

Cr. GUTHREY’S POSITION

Still Committee Chairman The works and airport committee of the City Council still has Cr. A. R. Guthrey as its chairman. That is the interpretation of senior council officials on. the position which arose after the last council meeting when Cr. Guthrey resigned from the chairmanship. Standing committees and their chairmen are elected by the council; therefore a resignation is for the council to receive or reject. The next meeting of the council will be on April 20, and a meeting of the works and airport committee is scheduled for April 6.

Meanwhile, Cr. Guthrey has continued to carry out the chairman’s duties.

It is possible that a way will be found for Cr. Guthrey to continue in the position he has occupied for more than three years and a half. After he had offered his resignation—the offer was made at the end of a brisk argument—he announced that h-? was prepared to reconsider his resignation if he could be assured of the council’s support for the previous council’s policy on airport development and implementation of the industrial consultants' recommendations for the works department. That policy was endorsed by the Citizens’ Association at election time. Councillors who voted for “another look at the airport finances,” without actually condemning the proposal to spend money on extending the main runway to take jets, may find they can reconcile their views with the wishes of Cr. Guthrey. On the particular issues mentioned publicly there is not a wide gap between the two llsides.” ’ Cr. Guthrey’s colleagues certainly do not wish to lose one who while still young in years is a veteran in council service. Possible By-election

Also, the council does not wish to face the by-election which would be necessary if Cr. Guthrey resigned from the council altogether, a step he would probably take if resignation from the chairmanship meant relegation to a “back seat.”

A by-election would cost at least £2OOO.

In recent years whenever there was a vacancy requiring a byelection there was a gentleman’s agreement that only one party would nominate, and that the nomination would be of the candidate who was on the top of the list of unsuccessful candidates at the election. In November, an all-Citizens' council was elected. Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives, a former Mayor and a former councillor, topped the Labour poll. It is unlikely that the Citizens’ councillors would wish to hand back a seat to such a redoubtable opponent. Fruit Supplies Drop Supplies of fruit are tailing off in the Christchurch produce markets. A consignment of island coconuts and paw paws has arrived at Lyttelton, and should I on sale this week. Ortaniques were selling at 37s to 45s a case, and "amacian oranges were selling in the shops at a retail price of Is 4d . a pound. There were plentiful supplies of water melons from Motueka. Vegetables were also. plentiful.