WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21989, 26 June 1933, Page 8

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

INTEREST IN BY-ELECTION (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 24. The death of a councillor has caused an early by-election for Wellington City, and it is developing into a political contest, with two members of Parliament as the principal figures. The usual election in May resulted in a council comprising nine candidates who may be termed “’Citizen,” while two were independent, and the Labour group comprised five. One “ Citizen ” candidate has long leave of absence, and as the by-election is due to the death of a supporter of the ‘ Citizen ” ticket, Labour, with some help from the Independents, who now hold the balance of power, could effectively sway future policy. Nomination day was preceded by some strategy on both sides. At the last moment the names were put forward, MX P. Fraser, Labour member for Wellington Central, being substituted for the nominee who has been generally discussed, while the Citizens concentrated on Mr R. A. Wright, member for Wellington Suburbs, and former Minister of Education, ,as their strong man. There is also an Independent and a Communist, but the fight will doubtless centre itself on the two best-known candidates, while in the background is the knowledge that the Labour councillors have already given notice to, reinstate reductions in wages suffered by council employees.