“IN OPPOSITION”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 11

“IN OPPOSITION”

LABOR MEMBERS ACT * CHRISTCHURCH POLITICS Thfe La bo ’ Party has definitely decided to relinquish all the chairmanships of the standing and special committees of the Christchurch City Council as from the next meeting of the council, and to land over the whole of the administrative work to the nominees of the Citizens’ Association, who are. mnv in a majority for the first time lor three years. To give effect to this decision, Ur. 1). Sulli\an. M.P.. chairman of the finanefe committee arid tlie leader of the Labor group on the council, has given notice of his intention to move as follows at the meeting of the council to be held on Monday, April 14“ That all resolutions adopted by the council on Maiy 13, 1929, and subsequently relating to tlie appointment ot standing and special committees and tlie ehairina(i thereof be rescinded “That means that we are going into opposition,” said the Mayor, the Rev. j. K. Archer, in commenting on the notice of motion. “Whatever we may think of the election ami the. result, we realise that we lire now in office only, but not in power. That is a position no self-respecting people can occupy. We have therefore decided to give those who are in power the offices which are theii due. though, of course, we realise that we have our responsibilities to the citizens, and we shall co-operate in everything which in our judgment stands for progress. On the other hand, we will turn a. face of flint toward everything which means stagnation or reaction. tin all the committees at present constituted the Labor Party has a majority of the representation, the proportion being four Labor to three Citizens’ Association members, exclusive of the Mayor, who is an ex-officio member ol every coriinrittoe. It is probable that the proportion will be reversed when the committees are reconstituted, but the Mayor will still be an ex-officio member of each committee. A feting of the Citizens’ Association councillors will he held almost immediately to discuss the position that lias arisfcn. , , „ The matter was dismissed members of the Labour Representation Committee, and the decision of the Labor members of the council to resign the chairmanships of the committees was endorsed. _■