Unbridled ambition—Hay

Press, 11 July 1989, Page 1

Unbridled ambition —Hay

Sir Hamh’i Hay accused Mrs Margaret Murray of “unbridled ambition” as the gloves came off in the Christchurch mayoralty fight last evening. Sir Hamish, who was advised by Mrs Murray of her decision to abandon their alliance and seek the mayoralty herself, said he was astonished.

"We made an agreement a few months ago. I gave an undertaking to nominate her for deputy mayor, but just recently she wanted a written pledge from candidates. That was not part of the agreement. If you trust people you don’t ask for that. It’s not on.”

Sir Hamish said he was “fed up with the politicking” that had gone on. He had not confronted it before in his time in local gov-

ernment. He said the United Citizens would have to review their strategy in the wake of Mrs Murray’s decision, which she told him of by telephone last evening. “It appalls me that we have gone so far and now she has done this,” he said. Sir Hamish told Mrs Murray she would split the vote and allow the Independent, Ms Vicki Buck, through as Mayor. “She has acted from unbridled ambition. Her political ambitions could be damaged irreparably by her decision,” he said. Sir Hamish, who has been Mayor for 15* years, said he would review his own situation. He would not comment on whether he might withdraw. The United Citizens chairman,

Mr Dennis Rich, said he was disappointed at Mrs Murray’s decision after the hard work put in to make the merger work. “She would have had the support of the majority of Citizens councillors for the deputy mayoralty. Now she’s blown it.”

The association would still field a full team of candidates for the new council, he said. Christchurch’s other mayoral candidate, Ms Buck, was delighted at the news.

She believed it was inevitable that personal power struggles would split Sir Hamish and Mrs Murray. What was good for the city had come second to political wheeling and dealing, she said. Ms Buck said Mrs Murray’s constant dithering over her decision had reduced her credibility.