Waitaki M.P. to take a break

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 3

Waitaki M.P. to take a break

The Labour member of Parliament for Waitaki, Mr Jim Sutton, has been forced off the campaign trail for at least the rest of this week because of a son’s illness.

Mr Sutton’s campaign manager, Mr Philip Hope, of Oamaru, said yesterday that Geoffrey Sutton, who is in his early 20s, suffered injuries on the Sutton family’s Waihaorunga farm on Sunday and was taken to Timaru Hospital. He was transferred on Tuesday to the Ferguson Clinic at Sunnyside Hospital. Mr Sutton and his wife, Sheila, and the rest of their family will remain in Christchurch for at least the rest of this week.

Mr Hope said physical injuries were involved but

were not critical. He would not comment further on Geoffrey Sutton’s condition. Labour’s Waitaki campaign was launched on Monday and Mr Hope said the programme would have to be reshuffled slightly. A Waitaki meeting will be held in Temuka this evening and the member for Yaldhurst, Mrs Margaret Austin, will deputise for Mr Sutton. Waitaki is a marginal seat and a strong challenge is expected from National’s Mr Duncan Taylor, a farmer at Maheno. However, Mr Hope remains confident in spite of this setback. “Things have been going all right and we are confident of giving a good run for our money.”