Deputy Mayor to stand down

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 6

Deputy Mayor to stand down

The Deputy., Mayor of Christchurch, Cr P. J. R. Skellerup, will not seek reelection when the local body elections are held, in October. “Business is getting more complicated and taking up more of my time. I have been 'thinking about retiring for quite some time,” he said. . Cr Skellerup has been on the council for 22' years, six of them ;as Deputy Mayor. He said his decision to stand down had been made with regret, -

“I will certainly miss the council, but I think that 22 years is enough. I Warit' to make way for . younger people who have different ideas,” he said. •

Cr Skellerup is concerned about suggestions that remarks made by Sir Robert McFarlane about his alleged non-appearance in the South Ward were responsible for his decision to stand down. “They had absolutely nothing to do 1 With my decision.- I am not that thinskinned,” 'he said. ‘ ‘ : 1 '' ■Cr , Skellerup intends to stand as Citizens candidate for the • Lyttelton Harbour Board. The new candidate in the South Ward ’is ’ Mrs Honor Bonisch, a member of the Christchurch Transport Board for'six years. ■ ' Cr Skellerup served on the Canterbury Museum Trust Board and was chairman of the art’ gallery committee during' his term in office. He ■was chairman of the' parks and recreation committee for 12 years.

He said that a big; problem for the counciF in the future would be keeping rates down to an acceptable level. “They are tod high now,” he said. ; ;