Mr Pickering tramps his electorate

Press, 9 March 1978, Page 1

Mr Pickering tramps his electorate

By

Cedric Mentiplay

ernment Commission for the same period, out admits that politics is still in his blood. He offered for the Papanui and Lyttelton seats this selection, and is rumoured to have made second place, “But seconds don’t count in this game,” he said. The Wellington Central invitation was well received, and he was selected as Labour’s candidate. Since then he has been very active in getting

to know the newly extended electorate, and by the end of April will have visited all the groups involved. He believes he can win Wellington Central, which has been marginal for National for some time, but in which the changed boundaries are said to favour National. Mr Pickering is not prepared to agree with this. ■Counting on 1975 pol-ling-booth figures, it has

been estimated that the present National member (Mr K. M. Comber) has an advantage of some 2000 votes. “He will need more than that to be safe this year,” Mr Pickering said. “The Government has taken a lot of raps lately, and I have already detected a feeling ‘in the electorate that my opponent could be doing a bit more. His attitude on one or two issues

hasn’t pleased all his constituents.” He is quick to remark, however, that Wellington Central is an electorate of sectional interests. It takes in areas of differing incomes, and of varied interests. “The only way to learn about it is by seat and shoe-leather. I am used to this kind of situation.” After nine years on the Christchurch City Council, he became Mayor of

Mr N. G. Pickering, Mayor of Christchurch in the glamorous 1974 Commonwealth Games period, and once member of Parliament for St Albans, is all set to win Wellington Central for Labour at this year’s General Election. He has resided in the distant Wellington suburb of Eastbourne for two years, and has been a member of the Local Gov-

Christchurch In 1971. He was also chairman of the Metropolitan Fire Board, and of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. Asked about aspects of his time as Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Pickering said, “When you try to get things done, you have opponents. I did try — and I did get things done.”