The Press FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1961. City Council By-Election

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 12

The Press FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1961. City Council By-Election

The Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association and the Labour Party would

serve the ratepayers of Christchurch well if they reached agreement to avoid a by-election to fill the vacancy on the City Council caused by the death of Mr W. J. Cowles. There is no discernible public demand for a by-election and no matter how a vacancy were filled the strength of the two parties in the present council could hardly be materially affected for the remaining 18 months of the council’s term. An agreement between the parties would be contingent, of course, upon no intervention by an

independent candidate. The political parties could hardly be expected to stand aside to allow a council seat to go by default to a candidate who would have little chance of election if opposed by either of the parties. The Government proposes to introduce legislation in the coming session of Parliament to reduce as far as practicable unnecessary expense to local authorities for byelections for which there is no local demand. This legislation can be anticipated in effect by the two parties in Christchurch local politics, with the advantage to the ratepayers that they would be saved between £3OOO and £4OOO.