National Party’s Leaders Assessed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 14

National Party’s Leaders Assessed

The Press’’ Special Service

AUCKLAND, April 16.

The New Zealand National Party had had three leaders—Adam Hamilton, Sir Sidney Holland and Keith Holyoake—w ho were each suitable for their particular period, but not necessarily for much longer, Dr A. Robinson, senior lecturer in political science at Victoria University, told students at Auckland University.

He was speaking on trends: in National Party history at! a series of weekly talks arranged by the university's! national club. Mr Holyoake had disadvan-! tages as a public figure, with' certain mannerisms which could not be removed, and which irritated a number of people, he said. However a consensus would probably show he had superb timing as an administrator. “At the moment I think he can choose when he will go “As an administrator 1 think he can be described as one of the country’s most outstanding Prime Ministers Whether you regard his poli cies as desirable is another matter,” he said. Mr Holland had been an

| excellent man for bringing the i party “out of the wilderness" after 1938. “He was an ex- : I cellent Opposition fighter, but II don’t think he was an excellent Prime Minister, or that 11 he worked as hard at the job 11 as Mr Holyoake.” 11 Mr Hamilton had been use- ’ ful for bringing together I groups in the early 19305. IJ A main factor in National • Party success had been the (criterion of success, not in“tellectual success by any | means, but achievement, that I (had been demanded for Na- ( tional Party candidates, said Dr Robinson. Another factor in the party’s success had been its ability r to get rid of old men in the party. Most retired in theii ) 50s or 60s.