Mayor and mother ‘too much’

Press, 4 March 1989, Page 1

Mayor and mother ‘too much’

By

KAY FORRESTER

Heathcote’s county chairman, Mr Oscar Alpers, does not believe the person tipped to get the Labour candidacy for the Christchurch Mayoralty, Ms Vicki Buck, can handle being both Mayor and mother. He backed Mrs Margaret Murray’s claims that Ms Buck, who is expecting a baby in early June, is not being realistic. “When I was elected to the Heathcote council in 1980 I had three young children. The youngest was six. My wife was working full-time. There’s a tremendous commitment in terms of time. I just couldn’t have done it with a young infant, crying at 3 a.m. I think she is being totally unrealistic.” Mr Alpers said the Christchurch Mayoralty was a 12- to 15-hour-a-day job, seven days a week. It could be busier in the new enlarged city. “That’s why I won’t even contemplate standing. I don’t want to give half my life to it.” Mr Alpers said he would not be standing for the council either — “I have never supported the single-city concept.” But he was interested in the new regional council. Mr Alpers said he could understand Mrs Murray’s decision to join Sir Hamish Hay rather than stand against him for the Mayoralty. “But I think she sold herself short. I believe she could have won.” He did not give a lot for Ms Buck’s chances if she did run against Sir Hamish. Coalition’s fight, page 9