TIRED OF WRANGLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18787, 14 February 1923, Page 7

TIRED OF WRANGLING

CITY COUNCILLORS’ MOVE. AIM FOR INDEPENDENCE. (From Oor Own- Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 13. Professing to bo tired of tho long-drawn-out wrangles between the Citizens’ Association end the Labour Party, the three Independent members of the present City Council have decided to combine and add to their number and contest the next election ns a separate and distinct group. The main plank in their platform will' bo “no pledges.” Tho Independents feel that there has been too much time wasted in useless argument at tho City Council meetings. Said the leading member of the new party; “We want more attention paid to the real affairs of the city and less to tho disputes between tho Citizens’ Association and the Labour Party. That sort of thing has gone on long enough for hour after hour. It is often nothing but propaganda. Tho Independents are out to stop it. We wont the city run as a business concern. Wo intend fighting the election as a separate group, but, according to tho present proposals, none of us will be strictly tied down after that on (he various divisions. Each Independent can vote as he likes. All we ask is that the' Independents go more for action than talk.”

The Labour Party loader, commenting on these remarks, said; “There is feeling among the representatives of Labour that tho Independents have gained an undue proportion of support at the last election, but it. seems unlikely that the Independents will repeat their success at the coming election. The issue between Labour and the Citizens’ Association will be clear cut, and if the light is as vigorous as we expect the Independents will be neglected.”