LYTTELTON NEWS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24898, 11 June 1946, Page 3

LYTTELTON NEWS

COUNCIL VACANCY FILLED Mr W. T. Lindsay was last night appointed to fill the vacancy on the Lyttelton Borough Council caused by the death of Cr. H. A. Fletcher. The appointment was made after a spirited discussion in which Labour members of the Council were not in agreement, although Mr Lindsay was the official Labour Party nominee. The Mayor (Mr W. T. Lester) said the council would be well advised to hold an election and give the citizens the opportunity of themselves selecting the councillor. He moved that an election be held. The motion was seconded by Cr F. H. Heal.

It was only a month ago that the. council was congratulating itself on not being compelled to spend money on an election, said Cr. R. E. Cairns. Now somebody wanted an election. What was the reason? Was it possible that they, anticipated that there might be a nomination which was not acceptable? ‘ He moved that Mr W. T. Lindsay be appointed. The motion was seconded by Cr W. T. Huston. The Mayor ruled that the motions be taken separately. The Mayor’s motion was lost, the Mayor and Crs. Heal and J. Carson voting for it. Cr. Heal said that he had nothing personal against Mr Lindsay, but it must not be forgotten that he led the amalgamation movement. Cr. Cairns had said that amalgamation ought to be forgotten, but after the defeat of the amalgamation proposal, Mr Lindsay had publicly announced his intention of devoting his whole life to amalgamation; in other words, to oust the Borough Council. “By appointing Mr Lindsay you are appointing a man who has pledged himself to amalgamation," said Cr. Heal. How would the council’s present staff work with the man who would have put them out of a job? The councillors spent a lot of time in preparing statements against the amalgamation, and he did not feel like letting that work go for nothing, said Cr. C. A. Walker. Surely the town could produce another candidate who would be able and willing to serve the town as a whole and not any particular section. Cr. Carson said that the appointment would cause an outcry throughout Lyttelton. A motion by Cr. Heal that Mr E. Paulsen, whose name was next on the list of unsuccessful candidates at the last election, be elected, lapsed for want of a seconder.

On the motion being put, only three of the Labour councillors. Crs. Cairns. D. G. Miller, and G. Briggs, with Cr. W. T. Huston, voted for it, two Labour councillors, Crs C. A. Walker and C. A. Bridger, refraining from voting. Cr. Cairns: Very well; I call for a division, then they will all have to vote. Crs. Walker and Bridger then voted for the motion, which was carried. Mr Lindsay, who was formerly on the staff of the Christchurch City Council, had previously served as a councillor for two terms. Proposed Memorial Sports Grounds A sports arena on the reclaimed land at Erskine Point, which is proposed as a war memorial for Lyttelton, would cost about £7OOO, Cr. R. E. Cairns told a deputation to the council last night. The deputation, consisting of Messrs F. S. H. Warner, L. Sharr, E. H. Green, and.D. Taylor, claimed that they represented 1500 members of sports bodies and schools in Lyttelton, and they asked for support for a scheme to construct a sports area. Mr Sharr said it was proposed to approach the Government, through the member for the district, for assistance towards the cost of the scheme. The council would be asked to maintain the ground when constructed.- ■ The council agreed to appoint a committee to confer with a committee from the sports bodies after the recently-appointed borough engineer had taken up his duties. St. John’s Church A special musical service in honour of more than 40 church members who had served overseas was held at St. John’s Presbytetrian Church on Sunday night. The service was conducted by the Rev. W. J. Bevis and anthems were sung by the choir, conducted by Mr A. A. Swaby. Afterwards returned servicemen were guests at a social hour in the church hall.