A DEPUTY MAYOR

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 19 May 1925, Page 7

A DEPUTY MAYOR

ELtTJTION IN CHRISTCHURCH. 4 Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 18. At the City Council to-nignt for the position of Dopiy Mayor, Cr G. P. Agar (Citizens’ Association) defeated Cr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P. (Labour) by eleven, votes to six, on a strictly party vote. After tho vote, Cr. Sullivan said the Citizens’ Party was establishing a precedent which would inevitably bo followed by the Labour Party when it was in the majority. Cr. Leadiey: “You will be entitled to it, then.”

Cr. Sullivan said tho question was whether the precedent was a good one. A turnover of a few hundred votes at the last election would have placed the Labour Party in tile majority. Labour sentiment and support were growing. Tho precedent set by the Citizens’ Association. would, in years- to come, be followed by their opponents.

Cr. Agar: “I am quite prepared to accept the position.”

Cr. Sullivan: “In years to come, we 6hall have to follow that precedent.” Cr. C. Carr said that when the Labour Party was in tho majority, he would be sorry if it followed the very unfair and unjust precedents set by tho citizens’ majority in the appointment of committees and a Deputy Mayor. “I want it to bo clearly understood by this Council and tlhe public,” said the Mayor (Rev. J. K. Archer) “that never, in any ciroumstanees or at any time while I am Mayor of this city, will the man you have appointed Deputy Mayor act with my consent, or on my request. I want to have a clear understanding on that.” Cr. Agar said he could quite understand tho 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’ Party did not want a Deputy Mayor 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.