Wgtn deputy stripped of offices

Press, 15 April 1988, Page 6

Wgtn deputy stripped of offices

PA | Wellington The Deputy - Mayor of Wellington,' Ms Helene Ritchie, was stripped of all offices (at a city Council meeting on Wednesday evening' after a series of feuds with Labour) col-, leagues. ' ( Ms Ritchie, a councillor for 11 years and Deputy Mayor fori two years, was replaced Iby Cr (Terry McDavitt. I

The Mayor of Wellington, Mr Jim Belich, will take control of most of the seven (council committees which Ms Ritchie ran. I In a surprise move, Cr I Ritchie’s (future was de- ■ bated in the public section of the meeting. In a written report, the Mayor said several coun- I cillors had advised him they had lost confidence in Cr Ritchie as Deputy

Mayor. He therefore recommended her appointments should be revoked. “This feeling was the result of a chain of events and an accumulation of issues,” the Mayor said. “This is not a personal attack, nor was it a reaction to any policy matter, but is a response to her style of work and her behaviour over a long period.”

Cr Ritchie, looking tired and upset, remained for most of the meeting. She did not make a formal speech, but raised many points of order during the debate. | Cr Ritchie said yesterday she may have been punished by her Labour colleagues because they had been more willing to compromise their integrity on traditional Labour philosophy.