BITTER FEELING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1925, Page 11

BITTER FEELING

ON CHRISTCHURCH CITY

COUNCIL

\ STRICTLY PARTY VOTE."

(1!T TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 18th May

At the City Council Meeting to-night, for the position of Deputy-Mayor, Councillor C. P. A gar (Citizens' Association) defeated Councillor D. O. Sullivan. M.l. (Labour) by 11 votes to 6 on a strictly party vote. After the vote, Councillor Sullivan said that the Citizens' Party were establishing a precedent which would inevitably be followed by t-lie Labour Party when it was in the majority. . Councillor Leadley : "You will be entitled to it then."

Councillor Sullivan said, that the question was whether the precedent was a good one. A turnover of a tew lroiidred votes at the last election would have placed the Labour Party in a majority. Labour sentiment and support were growing. The precedent set by the Citizens' Association would in rears to come be followed by their opponents.

Councillor Agar : "I am quite prepared to accept the position."

Councillor Sullivan : "In years to come we will have to follow that precedent."

Councillor C- Carr said that when the Labour Party was in the, majority he would be sorry it' it followed the very unfair and unjust precedents set by the Citizens' majority in the appointment of committees and the Deputy-Mayor. "1 want it to be clearly understood by this council and the public," said the Mayor (Eev. J. K. Archer), "that never under any circumstances, or at any -time while I am 'Mayor of this city 'will the man you have appointed De-puty-Mayor act .with my consent, or on my request. . I want to have a clear understanding on that."

Councillor Agar said he could quite understand the Mayor's feelings in the matter. There was nothing personal involved; only a question of what the Mayor believed to be his rights. The Citizens' l'arly did not want a DeputyMayor to represent Mr. Archer, but a. Deputy-Mayor to represent the city of Christchurch. They did not expect or wish to represent Mr. Archer personally. •-■■■.