Lyttelton at the centre of political attention

Press, 27 April 1987, Page 9

Lyttelton at the centre of political attention

By

CHRIS MOORE

Lyttelton has suddenly found itself at the centre of an old political game.

Called "Guess the nomination,” the object of the game is to try to guess the name of the new Labour Party candidate for the Lyttelton seat and the possible successor to the present member of Parliament, Mrs Ann Hercus. Mrs Hercus announced last Tuesday that she would retire from political life. Within a few days, rumours were increasing about possible candidates for nomination.

By last Friday there were at least a dozen names on the list. Only one, a former Hercus campaign manager and senior Labour Party official, Mr Denis O’Rourke, had officially indicated that he would seek nomination. The reaction from other quarters ranged from “very interested” to a flat denial of any involvement.

Soon after Mrs Hercus’s announcement, some Canterbury Labour Party workers predicted interest from former Labour Party candidates in Timaru, Rangiora and Ltopedin. MS Jan Walker, a

Rotorua lawyer who stood unsuccessfully at the Timaru by-election, said that she had not given thought to standing for nomination in Lyttelton but might reconsider later.

Mr Brian Tomlinson, former Labour candidate in the Rangiora electorate, said that he had “backed off the political scene” because of work commitments.

A public relations expert, Mr Simon Walker, hinted that the outcome of the Pencarrow election nominations could decide his future with Lyttelton. Another Wellingtonian, the capital’s ' deputy mayor, Ms Helen Ritchie, has been rumoured as a possible nomination. But Ms Ritchie has also sought nomination for Pencarrow.

Party workers in Canterbury predict considerable opposition to any suggestion of an outside candidate being brought in.

“There is a definite move in favour of a local candidate. People expect someone from the region and not a carpetbagger. They have had enough of carpetbagging,” one said. Others were discussing Lyttelton’s reputation as an occa-

sionally volatile electorate. There were warnings that Labour could not assume that Lyttelton was a safe seat until the final vote was counted. The party would have to work to '•Ctain its 1984 4642vote majority. In these circumstances, a Canterbury candidate for Lyttelton, preferably someone who was known in the community, would be the logical choice. A Christchurch City councillor and Labour Party worker, Ms Vicki Buck, was rumoured to be considering standing for nomination but would neither confirm nor deny the suggestion. The party’s junior vice-presi-dent, Mr Garth Lomax, who stood unsuccessfully for the Avon nomination last year, was reported as saying that he would not stand.

A trade unionist, Mr Wes Cameron, was “interested” in nomination if he was approached. A Christchurch City councillor and senior lecturer at the University of Canterbury, Mr Charles Manning, has also been tipped as a possible nomination alongside another councillor, Mr David Close. Mr Close stood unsuccessfully for Labour in

Fendalton in 1978 and 1981 and lost the nomination for Yaldhurst to Mrs Margaret Austin in 1984. Mr Manning declined to comment on Friday. Mr Close said that he was “considering the matter.”

“I would like to take some time to consider the situation. Although I have stood for Parliament before, Ann Hercus’s decision was totally unexpected.” Whoever is finally nominated will find himself or herself dealing with an electorate which encompasses the spectrum of Labour Party politics ranging from the liberal middle class to hard-core Labour stalwarts. From the hill suburbs of Cashmere to the quays of Lyttelton, one fact is indisputable — flexibility and a knowledge of the local scene will be the name of this particular political game. If the suggestions are correct, party officials from head office could face a nasty shock if they are considering “importing” a candidate from north of Sumner.

Lyttelton’s fierce independence could savage any political novice — something which the party could ill afford at th j General Election.