Mayoralty

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 20

Mayoralty

Sir, —Saturday’s front-page heading, “Mayor and mother too much,” is certainly too much for me. I wonder when I will read a heading “Mayor and father too much" — I should hope not. I am sad to see that “The Press” is giving sexist statements this publicity. If Vicki Buck decides to stand for the mayoralty, I will consider her leadership qualities, her experience and dedicated work as a council member, and I expect a reputable newspaper to concentrate on these issues, too. —Yours, etc., RUTH TODD. March 4, 1989.

Sir, —I wipe tears from my eyes as I pen this very letter, so touched am I by the deep concern shown by our local politicians for Ms Buck’s plight. What warm and caring people they must be! Next, I expect election signs that read: "A vote for Vicki Buck is a vote against motherhood” or “Think of Vicki’s baby; vote for ... ” —Yours, etc., DENIS DUTTON. March 4, 1989.

Sir, —The old pros at managing full-time jobs and babies must be getting a chuckle out of Vicki Buck’s “the baby would make no difference to how I would do the job.” That is what everyone thinks before it arrives. Sure, you can have a weeks-old baby, run a mayoral campaign and be elected mayor. But I would not suggest any ratepayer ring Mayor Buck around 5.15 p.m. — working-parent meltdown time — to complain about a blocked gutter. You need a sympathetic employer to earn a living full-time (or more than full-time) while raising a baby. Is the Mayor’s employer — the electorate — sympathetic enough? — Yours, etc., CHRIS RENNIE. March 7,1989.