MAYORAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 152, 24 March 1944, Page 4

MAYORAL ELECTION

Reference To Position Of Mr. Roberts The announcement that Mr. J. Roberts, a member of the Waterfront Control Commission, was to be a candidate for the Wellington mayoralty was referred to.by Mr. Sheat (Opposition, Palea) in notice of a question in the House yesterday. He asked the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, if ho were satisfied that in the event of Mr. Roberts's success he would be able to carry out the additional duties without interfering with his important national duties as member of the commission, for which he was paid £1250 a year, ostensibly for full-time service. “If the Minister is of opinion Hint the two positions cannot properly lie filled by one person, has he decided what conrs-o he will adopt in the event of Mr. Roberts’s success at. the mayoral election, and has he notified Mr. Roberts of his decision?” asked Mr. Sheat. The Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, suggested that the member for Patou should postpone asking the question (ill he saw whether the electors of Wellington preferred Mr. Roberts or anyone else. lie could not see bow the duties of a waterfront control commissioner and mayor could be very well closely associated, but he could not make any pronouncement till the electors of Wellington had given theirs.