COUNCIL SEAT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 14

COUNCIL SEAT

Labour Party Nominee

Mr R. M. Macfarlane. member of Parliament for Christchurch Central, has been nominated by the Labour Party for the vacant seat on the Christchurch City Council. Announcing this last evening, the president of the North Canterbury branch of the Labour Representation Council (Mr R. Jones) said that Mr Macfarlane had been the unanimous choice of the branch executive. As the Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association has not nominated a candidate Mr Macfarlane will be automatically elected to the City Council unless an independent candidate decides to stand. Mr Jones said that Mr Macfarlane’s selection had followed the principle that the defeated candidate polling the highest number of votes at the previous election automatically took over a vacant seat when it occurred. He said that he wished to congratulate the Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association on its decision not to put forward a candidate, thus saving the City Council considerable expense with a by-election. If Mr Macfarlane is elected he will become the only Labour member, apart from the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), on the council. Now that the City Council meets on Wednesdays, instead of Mondays when Labour was in control, Mr Macfarlane may have some difficulty in attending meetings while Parliament is sitting Asked last evening whether the City Council would consider altering its meeting dates if Mr Macfarlane was elected, the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. H. P. Smith) said he did not think the council would consider any alteration just to suit the new member. “We have always considered that a member of Parliament cannot give his full attention to his duties as a councillor when his duties as a member of Parliament take him away from Christchurch The work of the City Council is growing so much that it is necessary for every councillor to do his ful’ share.” he said.