Figures tell the story

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32734, 11 October 1971, Page 1

Figures tell the story

Sometimes figures best tell a story. 1968: A. R. Guthrey, 22,263; J. Mathison, 12,774.1971: A. R. Guthrey, 22.414: N. G. Pickering, 24,279.

Those election-night voting figures for the Christchurch Mayoralty indicates the way Labour supporters turned out for Mr Pickering.

There was a bigger vote, but the fact remains that for the first time in 46 years a sitting Mayor has been beaten at an election. In 1925 the Rev. J. K. Archer had an easier task, because he was in a threeway contest with two fairlyevenly supported candidates. This time it was a straightout contest, except for an independent, Mr C. M. Hansen, a young man whose 594 votes were less than 200 more than the informals and whose main contribution was his $2O deposit. CLOSE CONTEST

From the earliest returns to reach the returning officer (Mr M. B. Hayes) it was obvious that it was going to be a fairly close contest. As the returns mounted and Mr Pickering gained an edge which was seldom really pegged back the pattern was confirmed.

Both parties tried to woo the electors of the eastern suburbs, where there is a

feeling of neglect, but Mr Pickering’s promise of the Commonwealth Games at Queen Elizabeth Park obviously appealed greater. In New Brighton, Bexley, Aranui and Wainoni on Saturday he received 2945 votes to Mr Guthrey’s 1373. In the early polling Aranui gave Mr Pickering 282, Mr Guthrey only 94, and in New Brighton the figures were 637 and 255. SHOOK HANDS The opponents met and shook hands at the broadcasting and television studios shortly after the final result was known.

In a brief speech the outgoing Mayor said it had been a pleasure to serve the last three years, but democracy had spoken and he congratulated the Labour Party, which he said was well organised. Mr Guthrey said he regretted the loss of some of the Citizens’ councillors and said the last council had been quite the best he had been associated with in more than 25 years with the council. He was elected in 1944 after being invalided home from the Army in the Middle East. Before becoming Mayor he had served as chairman of the works and airport committee, and took a leading part in the development of Christchurch International Airport.