Women successful in North Canterbury

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32734, 11 October 1971, Page 6

Women successful in North Canterbury

The Dominion president of the W.D.F.F., Miss Jean Smith, of Clarfcville, was one of the six successful women candidates in the North Canterbury localbody elections on Saturday. Miss Smith won a triangular contest to represent the counties of Ashley, Eyre, Oxford, and Rangiora and the boroughs of Rangiora and Kaiapoi on the North Canterbury Hospital Board. She will fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr H. O. Hills. With a total of 3386 votes. Miss Smith was 419 clear of her closest rival. Mr T. H. Burgin, a Swannanoa farmer, for whom Mr Hills was one of the nominees.

. North Canterbury districts will now have two women members on the Hospital Board, Mrs J. E. Gardiner having been re-elected unopposed to represent the count- ; ies of Kaikoura, Cheviot, Amuri, and Waipara.

In being one of the three successful candidates for the suburban riding of the <aikoura County, Miss A. Boyd is believed to be the first woman elected to the Kaikoura County Council. Active in several Kaikoura organisations, Miss Boyd ousted one of the sitting membets, and topped the riding boll Earlier members of the Boyd family were previously associated with local

body administration in the Kaikoura district. Mrs F. R. J. Clemett has been re-elected to the Kaiapoi Borough Council for her fourth consecutive term, while Mesdames W. E. Borrell and L. J. Bamford will enter their second terms on the Rangiora Borough Council.

Women candidates were unsuccessful in Waipara and Rangiora county elections, however, and three other women candidates were unsuccessful in the Kaiapoi and Rangiora boroughs.