Council may fill vacancy without poll

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 1

Council may fill vacancy without poll

By

STAN DARLING

The Christchurch City Council will probably decide on Monday evening to appoint someone to fill the South Ward vacancy left by the death of Sir Robert Macfarlane late last year.

The other alternative would be a by-election, which would cost about $17,000. Many councillors among the big Labour majority feel that it would be a waste of money to hold a by-election the outcome of which would be a probable win for a Labour candidate in the ward, which has been a stronghold of party support.

But even if a decision on an appointment is made next week, and a prospective councillor’s name announced, electors will still have the chance to demand a byelection within 30 days. At least 1176 electors — 5 per cent of the number enrolled in that ward — would have to Detition for that Doll.

Ward electors would have until March 20 to come up with those names and the last day for a by-election would be May 1.

“Personally. I believe that the council should make an appointment,” the Deputy Major (Cr Rex Lester) said yesterday. The feeling of the community was that the council should make decisions, and this one came within its capability.

He did not think there was any doubt that Labour would retain the seat in a byelection. He could not comment on how much interest had been shown by prospective councillors in the vacancy. If the council could make an appointment that was acceptable to the public, there was no reason why it should not be made, said Cr Vicki Buck.

On principle, she preferred a council that was directly

elected, but such an election in this case might be an expensive process for which there was no oublic demand. Mr C. L. Sugden, the Citizens' Association chairman, said that the association had not taken a stand on how the South Ward vacancy should be filled. It was problematical whether an association candidate could win there at this time. The association has five members on the City Council. including the Mayor (Mr Hamish Hay). The Labour Party has 14 councillors since Sir Robert’s death.

“An appointment by the council is probably the’ most sensible thing to do,” Mr Sugden said. That would mean less expense for the ratepayers. But it would be a good idea for the council to make an appointment based on ability and experience, rather than on a person's political leanings, he said. Even if the new councillor was not a Labour Party supporter, the council’s balance of power would not be threatened.

Although it is known that Mrs Mollie Clark, a former councillor and the 1980 local body election’s Labour Mayoral candidate, would be willing to join the council, Labour members are giving nothing away about how many persons might be interested in the job. <