Mayoral joust possible in local-body election

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 1

Mayoral joust possible in local-body election

With yesterday's announcement that the Mayor ol Christchurch. Sir Hamish hay will seek a fourth term next year, the scene is being set for what could be the most interesting Mayoral contest in years. Since his selection as Deputy Mayor after the Labour Party landslide twe years ago. Cr Rex Lester has been tipped as that party’s likely Mayoral candidate in next October's local body elections.

Cr Lester said yesterday that he had not thought about that step yet.

“It is a decision that should be deeply considered." he said. “I w : ant to be sure I am effective in the job I am now doing.” Sir Hamish, aged 54, said that an approach from the Citizens' Assocition “put the issue fairly and squarely before him,” and he decided tc stand again. If Sir Hamish completed another three-year term, he would become the longestserving Mayor in the city’s

history, eclipsing the 10-year record of the late Sir Robert Macfarlane. “If one can knock off a record in the process, that would be quite an interesting fact, but it would be very much secondary to doing a job for the city." he said.

Sir Hamish said the Citizen’s Association would have to work hard to attract qualified candidates with a chance of overturning the Labour Party's majority 15-5 (including himself).

“The demands on councillors are increasing and

people have to have a fair degree of dedication to offer themselves,” Sir Hamish said. Some Labour councillors saw local Government experience as a stepping-stone to Parliament, “but our people don't see it that way." Sir Hamish said it was “probably more difficult to attract candidates when you haven't got a team of a dozen or so silting councillors who would probably be seeking re-election by and large." The role of the Mayoress, Lady Hay, in community affairs will be emphasised again next year by the Citizens' Association. The office of Mayor had “virtually become a dual role,” said the association's president, Mr C. L. Sugden. Sir Hamish was first elected to the City Council in 1959, and became Mayor in 1974. He has been associated with the Christchurch Town Hall project for 25 years, and is chairman of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board.