Auckland Transport Board Election Prospects

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1939, Page 2

Auckland Transport Board Election Prospects

It seems likely that the Labour Party will lose its majority on the Auckland Transport Board. This will be the result of the rejection, at the recent ballot conducted by the Auckland Labour Representation Committee for candidates for tlio hoard election in May, of old stalwarts of the party, arid prominent sitting members not seeking re-elec-tion.

Both factions, the Labour Party and the Citizens and Ratepayers’ Association, are quietly preparing for the election, which is scheduled ffr May 3. but while the Labour Party has,announced its candidates, the choice of the Citizens’ Association will not bo made known till later in the week. . Only one of the sitting members in. the city area, Mr J. Sayegh, survived the L.R.C.. the men rejected including the Hon. F. E. Lark, M.L.C., deputy chairman of the board, and Mr E. J. Phelan, No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, who lias been on the bo'ard for many years..

The chairman of the board, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, and 'Mr W. T. ' Anderton. M.P..' did riot seek re-election.

The New Team.

Replacing these four are men who are well known amongst Labour Party supporters, but who are not likely to hf:ve the s'ame appeal to the voters as their predecessors. Included in “Mr Sayegh’s team” on this occasion are Mr R. Armstrong' who is serving his first term on the city council, Mr J. T. Jennings, president of the L.R.C., Mr T. P. MeCready, secretary of the L.R.C., Mr, C. Bailey, also a city councillor, iand Mrs M. M; Dreaver, a member of the Auckland Hospital. Board,