WAIMAIRI COUNCIL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 16

WAIMAIRI COUNCIL

Appointment To Vacancy

The Waimairi County Council last evening appointed Mr H. J. Reynolds—a former chairman of the council—as a member to represent the Harewood riding consequent on the resignation of Mr V. P. Rabbitte.

Three councillors—Crs. A. A. Adcock (Styx), C. B. Baker (Wairarapa), and W. T. Rice (Papanui) strongly opposed the move saying that it would give an unfair advantage to the appointee at the October local body elections. Put to the vote, the appointment of Mr Reynolds was carried, 4-3.

A petition with 25 signatures supporting the nomination of Mrs M. Y. Burrows had been received, while two other persons, Messrs N. W. J. Halkett and J. Stock, had written to the council offering their services, said the County Clerk (Mr K. Maclachlan), in answer to councillors’ questions. Cr. Rice first moved that no appointment be made. Although the council had a legal right to make an appointment, he doubted that the council had a moral right to "usurp the rights of the Harewood electors” so close to the council election.

Cr. W. E. Cassidy (Belfast) moved an amendment that Mr Reynolds be appointed. Somebody with experience of council affairs was needed and Mr Reynolds was willing to act.

“Going Over Their Heads” Cr. Baker said that an appointment of Mr Reynolds would be “going over the heads” of those who had offered their services and would be unfair. Cr. Adcock asked the acting-chairman, Cr. O. C. Mitchell, if the council had had any official word from Mr Reynolds that he would be willing to serve, if appointed. If not, was not Mr Reynold’s nomination out of order? Cr. Mitchell ruled it was not out of order. Cr. Adcock said that the council could be in the position of appointing Mr Reynolds, finding him unwilling to act, and then be back where it started.

Cr. Cassidy: You needn’t worry about that Cr. Adcock persisted with objections, describing the appointment as “unfair” and “undemocratic” to Harewood riding electors. “We have had no official indication of consent to nomination by Mr Reynolds and an appointment will give him an advantage a few months before the election,” he said. Cr. Cassidy’s amendment was then put to the vote, and carried as an substantive motion.