New City Member Of Harbour Board

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31992, 20 May 1969, Page 16

New City Member Of Harbour Board

Mr F. G. K. Gilchrist, the only unsuccessful Citizens’ Association candidate for the five city seats on the Lyttelton Harbour Board at the local body elections last October—Sir George Manning was the successful Labour candidate—was appointed by the City Council last evening to replace Mr J. K. Dobson on the board.

Mr Dobson, who was a new member of the board, was appointed chairman of the trade and public relations committee but shortly after was transferred by his Australian principals to a more important executive position requiring him to live in Auckland. The Harbours Act provides that when an extraordinary

vacancy occurs, the local authority for the district shall forthwith appoint a qualified person in his place.

Mr Gilchrist was nominated last evening by Cr H. P. Smith, and Cr N. G. Pickering nominated Cr R. M. Macfarlane. After a pause, Cr Macfarlane said there could be an argument on “first past the post versus party representation,” and in the circumstances he was prepared to withdraw. At the elections Mr Dobson polled 16,130 votes. Next on the list was Mr Macfarlane, with 15,727 votes, and he was followed by Mr Gilchrist, with 15,514. Mr Gilchrist is a public accountant, and secretary of the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority, the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board, and the South Island Local Bodies’ Association.