’lndependent,’ says candidate

Press, 3 December 1979, Page 4

’lndependent,’ says candidate

The former Values candidate for the Lyttelton seat at the last General Election, Mrs Helen Chambers, campaigns for the Heathcote-Cashmere riding by-election as an Independent.-

Mrs Chambers is on a University of Canterbury zoological expedition to the Poor Knights Islands to band birds. She is expected back next week. She held three streetcorner meetings last week, and addressed the inaugural meeting of the Cashmere Residents and Ratepayers’ Association. She will continue campaigning when she returns.

Mrs Chambers had no false hope that she, or anyone, could act as mediator at the Heathcote County Council meetings, said her campaign manager (Mrs C. Oliver). She intended to act independently, objectively examining the issues.

On amalgamation with other local authorities, Mrs Chambers favoured a decision based on ratepayer opinion, but Only after discussion of all the facts. She wanted a reappraisal of Riding boundaries, and the basis for representation. so that each councillor represented about the same number

of people. “I will provide sound and informed representation based on facts, and

knowledge of what peep * want in the communttv." says Mrs Chambers, in a statement. She plans to hold public meetings during her term of office to inform ratepayers of the issues.

Mrs Chambers is married, with five children. A community worker, and a campaigner for women's rights: she helped found the Waltham Women’s Self Centre. She was instrumental in setting up the Chasmere Ratepayers and Residents' Association. Mrs Chambers has a

degree in zoology, and special interests in health, education, politics and the environment.