Unexpected Vacancy On Harbour Board

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 1

Unexpected Vacancy On Harbour Board

The Lyttelton Harbour Board will have more than the usual changes this year, whatever the result of the election on October 12 may be, because five sitting members are retiring, four by choice.

Already, almost four weeks before the election, the board has an extraordinary vacancy. The combined districts of Ashburton borough and Ashburton county are entitled to two members. When nominations closed on Friday only one had been nominated.

Mr J. Brand, a member of the board for a number of years, is the only Ashburton nominee. Mr E. Brophy, who was a member from 1959 and chairman of the finance committee, has not been nominated. The position is that the dis-

tricts can get together and ■ perhaps agree on an appointed representative, otherwise there will have to be a Governor-General’s appointment, which will take some • time. Mr Brophy, a retired accountant, had been mentioned by some members as a pos-

sible future chairman or deputy-chairman, but he has interests in and outside Ashburton which caused him to think he would not seek reelection to the board, but a few weeks ago was still undecided. TWO VETERANS The retirements include two veterans and former chairtian, Mr F. W. Freeman, who is now 87 and who has been on the board since 1941 and Mr W. P. Glue, who is 80, who joined the board in 1948. Mr B. G. Barclay, who has represented the combined counties of Paparua, Heathcote, Ellesmere and Malvern for three years, is not seeking re-election because he will be moving from Halswell to the city and next year will be the Labour Party candidate for Christchurch Central.

Mr H. E. Denton, a Labour member for three years, is retiring because he missed selection by ins party for one of the Christchurch city seats.

In Mr Barclay’s district he will be replaced by a former board member and chairman, Mr J. K. McAlpine. Mr McAlpine served on the board from 1937 to 1955, when he was appointed to Cabinet rank with the portfolios of Transport, Civil Aviation and Railways, and was chairman from 1943 to 1945. He retired from politics two years ago. Mr McAlpine and the other sitting representative of the district, Mr G. E. Wright, have been elected unopposed. Mr A. A. Macfarlane, a former chairman, who represents North Canterbury counties, will also go back on the board without opposition, as will Mr W. B. Laing, for the Lyttelton borough. The present chairman, Mr L. G. Amos, who represents Waimairi county and Riccarton borough, has two opponents.

Only two of the present city representatives Sir George Manning (Labour) and Mr F. I. Sutton (Citizens), the deputy-chairman—-are candidates for election.