October elections

Press, 8 September 1989, Page 8

October elections

Sir,—lt is hard to travel anywhere or open a newspaper without being confronted by large hoardings, full-page advertisements or a double-decker bus. If that was not enough, I had to fight through a herd of welldressed distributers of pamphlets to get into Lancaster Park. Even inside the ground, the crowd was buzzed by an aircraft towing a banner. All related to Margaret Murray and her .team of businessmen. If all that was not enough, now I hear real estate agents have been asked to find a central city office for a campaign centre. I am impressed. Money is obviously no object to this affluent team; but in the end money will not buy votes.— Yours, etc., LOCKY CARMICHAEL. September 3, 1989. ■.

Sir,—Mr Laurenson (September 2) has nicely highlighted one of my concerns. Voters should consider very carefully whether the business of professional commitments of many ?would allow, them •-* to -devote thernselves 2‘.neariyJUll..time'? to council responsibilities;-’*-I “undermine; has?jconijmehced.”? l liam - a very strqttg,sjipr®irterofl?ie;cofhmun'ity boards • and - am very encouraged by the large humber?bf nominations. Hopefully, the new ?cousici(?will ensure • that?" the . 'elected community boqrd mernbeis are- given- all the support ,?ne&ssary id ?enable ..them to ’^property’.represent , their. ;lpsal ’ 4hat the system results in real grassroots input • into’ council - decfeipns. Maybe, ?>tfien, cdrrimunitiesCcah stdpTwasting;energy.defeating unwelcome ?, proposals <iike the drag strip on EnsorS Road) and Start, feeding positive ideas to councillors so ?thatthe ratepayers are'-getting ; the; services they want—Yours, etc. • ; . ? ? I 7(Mrs) .ANN JCEyiS; ? - September 5, 1989.-* - ; . 7 a suppSifterr,; X2h6t only welcome the opportunity to answer Monty Whittaker (August 29), in which he describes Vicki

Buck as a loner, but deem it a privilege to champion her mayoral cause. Equally, 16 years ago, through your columns, I congratulated Vicki on her election to the Christchurch City Council at the age of 18 as an ambitious, outgoing young lady with a vision for her city. On August 31 I called in on an accommodating headquarters supplied by wellwishers’ donations to find it filled with people of all ages labelling 2000 gifts — golden trumpet flowers with “Vicki Buck the positive choice” which were given away within two hours from Cathedral Square, heralding spring. After 15 years of proven service for her city at 34, she still kindles a flame of realistic ambition. I would assure your correspondent that this level of support throughout our city will literally carry Vicki Buck shoulder high to the mayoral seat on October 14.—Yours, etc ALAN RUSSELL. September 2, 1989. Sir,—l am becoming increasingly perturbed at the Christ-

church Action Team’s safety, policy. This policy, while sound, is largely already part of the present council’s approach to law and order in the city. The policy offers little new.’ Christchurch’s leadership -needs a change, but the Action: “Team’s policy offers none. Another salient point that must? be remembered is that the Christchurch Action Team itself is a direct result of the struggle for power between the Waimairi Independent Team and Citizens Association. I find it difficult to believe that the bitter infighting that spawned Christchurch Action will not continue at council level. Any council comprising of United Citizens and Christchurch Action councillors would surely engage in perpetual brawling as each faction tried to assert its dominance. The new Mayor of the new city needs to be aboye. this sort of political infighting. Vicki Buck is the only mayoral candidate who can claim this honour and Canterbury Labour candidates are the only ones not tainted by backstabbing politics. These candidates offer the stabil-