COUNCIL SEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 9

COUNCIL SEAT.

MR. C. BAILEY RESIGNS MR. H. J. BUTCHER SUCCEEDS. Advice was received by the Auckland City Council at a meeting last evening that Mr. C. Bailey, who was elected to the council as a representative of Labour, had tendered his resignation as a member. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, reported that he had conferred with the city solicitor, and it was agreed that in accordance with the usual practice the candidate last before the Mr. H. J. Butcher, who was the unsuccessful candidate at a by-election on July 6, 1938, when Mr. C. Bailey was elected, should be appointed to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term.

On the motion of the deputy-Mayor, Mr. J. A.-C. Allum, who presided, appreciation was expressed of Mr. Bailey's services. Mr. Allum next moved that Mr. Butcher should be appointed to fill the vacant seat.

Mr. A. St. C. Brown said that the law was perfectly plain. They could either put the electors to the expense

of an election; or fill the vacancy. There was only eight months to the next election, and it would be preposterous to ask the electors to fill the vacancy for a period of eight monthe. It would be invidious to appoint anyone but the other candidate at the by-election. Mr. J. Sayegh considered that a courtesy should be extended to the party to which Mr. Bailey belonged. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver nominated Mr. J. A. Mason. On a vote being taken Mr. Butcher was selected by 10 votes to 4. It was decided to appoint Mr. Butcher to the committee positions which Mr. Bailey held on the council. Mr. Bailey was first returned to the council as a member in 1935, and held office to the next election in 1938. He was again returned at the by-election necessary through the death of Sir George Richardson. Mr. Bailey is prominent in Auckland Labour circles. Mr. Butcher is a well-known Auckland business man and is prominent in motoring circles.