MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Cr Stillwell omitted as Labour candidate

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 16

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Cr Stillwell omitted as Labour candidate

(By

D.D.L. BORMAN)

A surprise omission from Labour Party candidates for the Christchurch City Council election in October is Cr R. H. Stillwell, who has been a councillor for nine years.

The Christchurch Labour Representation Committee dropped him from its list when candidates were approved last week, although it is not making any announcement —either of Mr Stillwell’s omission or the successful candidates —until all have been given a chance to supply biographical details.

Cr Stillwell is not saying anything in the meantime either, although he admits to disappointment at his exclusion. A surprise is that the party apparently thinks it is now so strong that it can afford to dispense with a certain seat winner. Cr Stillwell has shown this by topping the Labour vote in 1965, and by winning one of only three Labour seats at the last elections.

As a Labour representative, Cr Stillwell, a retired businessman best known perhaps for his Christmas and other festival decorations at his Selwyn Street home, has served on the Drainage Board (16 years), the Transport Board (10 years), and the North Canterbury Hospital Board since the last elec tion. He has made no secret of the fact that he wishes to retire from the ad hoc bodies; but wanted to continue on the council to see some projects completed, such as the Town Hall, with which he has been associated. RECENTLY REBUKED Cr Stillwell has not always been completely on side with his few Labour council colleagues; and was recently rebuked by the L.R.C. for writing a letter to “The Press” favouring completion of the Centennial Pool, when L.R.C. policy was said to be to press for a new swimming pool in the eastern suburbs.

With Cr Stillwell dropped, and with Cr N. G. Pickering contesting the mayoralty only, the Labour Party will be left with only one experienced councillor —a veteran in Cr R. M. Macfarlane, a former Mayor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives—in its council I team for October. It is believed that another j

former councillor, who lost his seat three years ago, was a nominee, but missed in the ballot The president of the Canterbury University Students’ Association (Mr D. F. Caygill) will stand for election as a candidate for the Labour Party. Aged 22, Mr Caygill is one of the youngest men ever nominated. He will graduate next month with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and political science fjom the University of Canterbury, where he has been a student since 1968. For the past year Mr Caygill has been a member of the youth advisory council for the Labour Party, and he is also a member of the University of Canterbury Coun-

cil. Others known to be included in a list of 19 nominated by the Labour committee to contest the elections include the chairman of the committee, Mr W. Massey; Mr B. Alderice, aged 37, who holds a diploma of business .administration and is a vice-presid-ent of Solo Parents (Canterbury); Mr P. W. Anderson, aged 25, a graduate in political science and economics at the University of Canterbury; Mr A. F. Ross, a member of the board of the Christchurch

Technical Institute; Mr J. F. Davidson, a former company director and member of the Christchurch Drainage Board; and Mrs N. Sutherland, a teacher who has specialised-un physical education and was a member of the Christchurch Parents’ Association and the Family Planning Association. There are 11 other candidates who have not stood before for Municipal Elections.