VACANT SEAT ON CITY COUNCIL MAY BE CONTESTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 11

VACANT SEAT ON CITY COUNCIL MAY BE CONTESTED.

CATHEDRAL SQUARE ISSUE LIKELY TO BE RAISED

Until the Citizens’ Association meets early next week it will not be known definitely whether there will be a contest for the vacancy on the City Council caused by the resignation of Mr G. R. Hunter. If the resignation had been withheld until after the first \\ ednesday in December a by-election could have been avoided as the council could have filled the vacancy by appointment. However, in view of the objections raised by the Audit Department Mr Hunter felt that it was best to resign immediately. The cost of a contested election will run into several hundred pounds, but the amount cannot be accurately estimated at this stage. A supplementary roll will need to be prepared and the last day for receiving enrolments will be October 9. The election will take place on October 23. A suggestion has been made that the by-election should be fought on the question of the proposed alterations to Cathedral Square, but the Citizens’ Association is divided on the matter!* 1 When the Mayor, the Rev. J. K. Archer, was asked whether he would like to see the by-election fought on the Cathedral Square question, he said that the matter had not been consider ed by either the council or the Labour Party, but as far as he was personally concerned, he would not only be wili ing, but was even keen to f.icc the citizens on the Square issue.

“I admit that. I may be wrong, but my opinion and unqualified conviction is that the citizen-, as a whole are in favour of the scheme;'' the Mayor added. “If they are not in favour of it, whatever my personal opinions are, I am prepared as a democrat to accept the judgment of the community. I can’t, of course, bind the other members of the council to that view.” A caucus of the Labour members of the council will be held to-morrow night to consider the position that has arisen as a result of the resignation of Mr Hunter. It is considered practically certain that Councillor 11. T. Armstrong, M.P , will be appointed chairman of the Works Committee for the remainder of the council’s term of office. The selection of a Labour candidate for the vacancy will be considered at the next meeting of the Labour Representation Committee.