South Ward vacancy to be filled by Labour man

Press, 16 February 1982, Page 1

South Ward vacancy to be filled by Labour man

Mr A. G. James, a Department of Maori Affairs solicitor, will probably be the new Christchurch City Council member for the South Ward.

His appointment was made last evening by the Labourdominated council.

Mr James, aged 28, will become a councillor at a special meeting on March 29 if South Ward electors do not demand a by-election. In the 1980 local body elections, he was the highest polling unsuccessful candidate in the ward, running on the Labour Party ticket. Citizens Association councillors tried to have Mr N. G. Hattaway named as the per-, son to take the place of the late Sir Robert Macfarlane.

That move was defeated. Mr Hattaway is a former chairman of the council's policy and finance, and townplanning committees. He was defeated as a North Ward candidate in 1980. Cr D. C. Close said it

would be difficult to pass over a person who had actually contested an election, and had been the highest polling unsucessful candidate. ‘

. Cr Rex Lester said that Mr James had the energy and enthusiasm to do the job, and it had taken Courage and interest to contest the 1980 election.

Few people could afford the time and commitment to

be a councillor, said Cr Vicki' .Buck. “The opportunity was there at all times for some sort of independent person," she said. It was disappointing that sb few people wanted to be on the council. Mr. Hattaway had made a useful contribution to the council, Cr Buck said, and she had respected his financial ability, "but I don't think he was the sort of independent person we were looking for.” When she had been sitting opposite him at the council table, he had often rejected suggestions simply because she had made them. . “I venture to suggest that Mr Hattaway would be quite shocked and horrified if he was selected," Cr Buck said. Cr M. R. Carter said Mr Hattaway’s financial experince and background were needed on the council. He said that Mrs Mollie Clark had also made a considerable contribution in the past. She had been a Labour councillor and the 1980 Mayoral candidate for that party, but had not been selected. A move by Cr Helen Garrett to have most councillors elected at large, and not from wards, from the 1983 election was defeated.