Big issues in small elections

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33655, 3 October 1974, Page 3

Big issues in small elections

(By our local body reporter)

The most controversial issues confronting local body electors in the polls on October 12 affect the smallest groups of voters —726 in the Port Victoria riding of Mount Herbert County, and 312 in the Wairewa County Council’s Little River riding.

At Mount Herbert, the emotions aroused by the council’s plan for Governor’s Bay-Allandale have compelled 10 candidates to stand for the four riding seats. At Wairewa, where seven men will be, after the three seats, the contest will depend on the electors’ attitudes to the council’s policy on amalgamation. In both elections, because of the small number of voters and the big number of’candidates, there is a possibility of tied voting —• both returning officers are getting advice on how to resolve this if it occurs.

Tn an effort to soothe feelings in the Mount Herbert turmoil, Mr G. P. O’Farrell, the millionaire landowner whose plans precipitated the row, recently took a fullpage advertisement in a suburban newspaper to defend his position, and offered to include residents on an advisory committee to help him develop his land in conformity with the environmental plan.

Mr O’Farrell rightly observed that there had been a great deal of speculation, mostly uninformed, on proposals which remain to be tested at town-planning hearings. Nevertheless, the environmental plan and Mr O’Farrell’s changing aspirations are the basis on which the election will I be contested by candidates of varying degrees of opposition or acceptance. Although the riding has 726 electors, it extends from Rapaki to Church Bay. It has fewer than 400 electors at Governor’s Bay, and an unknown number of these are holiday-home owners.

Four sitting members

The candidates include the four sitting members — the county chairman, Mr E. R. Radcliffe, who has gained respect in a wider sphere; his brother, Mr M. D. Radcliffe, defeated in 1971 but appointed to the council when Mr E. J. Doudney, elected, resigned after not attending a meeting; Mr G. M. M. Couch, assured of solid support at the Rapaki end and who topped the poll in 1971; and Mr C. C. Manson, equally sure of support on the Church Bay side. Mr M. D. Radcliffe may be defeated by one of the new candidates, good possibilities being Mr B. S. Johns, a solicitor, or Mr G. D. Kirk, a landscape contractor, both of whom oppose extensive development. The field is wide open, though, for the other candidates — Mrs J. D. P. Keer-Keer, Messrs J. F. Brockhurst, K- T. Marriott (a former Transport Board member) and C. Wallis (Cass Bay).

No election is needed for the council’s Port Levy riding, where sitting members, Messrs C. E. Jenkins, J. D. Blakely, and R. M. Coop, have been returned unopposed, with the first woman councillor, Mrs E. K. Gar-

diner. She is related by marriage to the retiring councillor, Mr R. F. Gardiner, and is a second cousin to the late Mr Norman Kirk, Mrs Gardiner made a great impression giving evidence to the Water Resources Council on Lyttelton Harbour water classifications, and should be an asset to the council.

’ The Wairewa County Council has a history of at least 15 years in opposition to any amalgamation. This time, a determined effort to get a council that will, at least, consider the pros and cons will meet an opposition just as determined. The outcome will depend on the over-all composition of the new council. One of its sitting members, Mr A. N. K. Quentin-Baxter (Kinloch), has been active in organising opposition to the “stay put” faction, and he claims his supporters will carry the day. Seven men, all farmers, are standing for the three Little River seats. They include the county chairman, Mr P. N. Ussher, and another sitting councillor, Mr H. C. Vanstone, both opposed to amalgamation. The other sitting member, Mr E. G. Grant, appears to be uncommitted. The other four candidates are Mr L. Couper, unsuccessful in 1971, who supports Mr Quentin-Baxter; and Messrs W. D. Latham (son of a former councillor), S. D. Edge, and J. D. R. White, who are not aligned. Indications point to a close poll among the 312 voters. The amalgamation issue also affects the two-seat Kinloch riding, where Mr Quentin-Baxter is supported by Mr T. W. Hutchinson, whose family has played an active part in local body work. They are opposed by the other sitting member, Mr T. D. Barwick, opposed to amalgamation. There is no election for the Kaituna riding, in which the sitting councillors,

(Messrs P. H. Parkinson (for amalgamation) and W. J.' Thompson (against), have been returned unopposed. Akaroa County The only elections for the Akaroa County Council are in the Okain’s Bay and Duvauchelle ridings. The other councillors and the Akaroa Town Committee were elected unopposed. i Mr C. R. B. Thacker will! try to unseat Mr A. J.! Boleyn at Okain’s, and two! newcomers, Mr D. S. Hayward, a farmer, and Mrs P. M. Stronach, a Robinson’s Bay farmer’s wife, will contest Duvauchelle, where Mr CD. Kay Has retired. The boards All three counties share a seal, on the Harbour Board, and one on the Hospital Board. The Hospital Board) candidat&s are Mr W. SJ Tredinnick, a Lyttelton councillor, Dr D. W. Beaven, professor of medicine at the Christchurch Clinical Centre, and Mrs N. J. Johnson, a housewife. The Harbour Board candidates are the sitting member, Mr T. D. J. Holdemess (Gebbie’s Valley), Mr L. W. Laing (Lyttelton) and Dr J. E. Keithley (Lyttelton), all Independents, and Mr M. E. Foster (Labour), the secretary of the Lyttelton Waterfront Workers’ Union. There will be no Banks Peninsula elections for unopposed seats on the Catchment Board (Messrs O. R. Chamberlain and R. H. Mackenzie) and the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board (Mr D. O. Masefield).