P.M. Not Planning Retirement

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32323, 15 June 1970, Page 22

P.M. Not Planning Retirement

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 14.

The Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) will lead the New Zealand delegation to the Prime Ministers’ conference in Singapore next January. He also intends to lead his party into the General Election of 1972, and for a considerable time after that. He made these points clear at a press conference held at his residence yesterday morning, when he and Lady Holyoake were also engaged in answering well-wishers’ telephone calls.

The strongest clue to his political future was given by Sir Keith Holyoake when he mentioned his meeting in Australia with the Victorian Premier (S i r Henry Bolte).

“When I met Sir Henry the other day, he had just won his sixth general election in a row," Sir Keith said. “He was knighted after his fourth victory—and went on to win two more. I thought that meeting him was quite an encouraging omen.” In the most emphatic denial he has made of retirement plans, he told questioners: “Plans? I have none, so the receipt of this honour could not change them in any way. I have never at any time given credence to the thought that 1 might retire.

“I give an absolute and nositive denial of any thought whatsoever that this honour now conferred on me by the Queen will change in any way my views on the matter, or has affected my thinking or my actions in any way whatsoever.” Pressure

Sir Keith said that for something like five years he had been under considerable pressure to accept a knighthood. “I have resisted this pressure,” he said, “but when the invitation came direct from her Majesty, that was that. The Queen spoke to me about it when she was here. I have never taken a keen interest in honours—although as Prime Minister I do have to approve birthday honours lists.”

He denied that in this case the Queen had acted on the advice of his ministers. The decision had been hers, and this had been indicated by the fact that the announcement was not on the New Zealand list. He admitted that the speculation concerning his possible retirement had been a little wearing, and that it had created some doubt and hesitation in some spheres. Last year, he said, he had held a ballot of Government members as to whether he should retire. “One caucus member considered I should retire,” Sir Keith said. “1 think he may have misunderstood the question before caucus. 1 am sure no member of the Cabinet leaked this information to the press.” Describing the speculation as being “a figment of the! imagination of, columnists I and commentators,” he said:' Own Decision

“I point out with some force that I am today nine or

10 years younger than the last Prime Minister (the late Sir Walter Nash) was when he first became Prime Minister, and am 12 or 13 years younger than he was when he retired.” Sir Keith said that when he had dinner with the former Prime Minister of Australia. Sir Robert Menzies,

last week, Sir Robert had recalled that for 10 years commentators had been writing of his retirement, but finally he had made up his own mind.

“1 am bound to say 1 will take the same course,” Sir Keith said. “If someone predicts every week for the next 10 years that I am going to retire then one day he will be right.” The first congratulatory telephone call came to the Holyoake house in Pipitea Street just before 7 a.m. on Saturday. It was from a hospital patient, and it was answered by Sir Keith, who had “just happened to be up, making some coffee.” Since then the Holyoakes have been very busy indeed. They have no domestic staff, and phone-answering has been shared by Sir Keith and Lady Norma. The Post Office began ringing at an early hour, reporting the receipt of telegrams. Sir Keith asked for them to be held and delivered later in bulk.

The first consignment to be opened contained a cable from the Governor-General (Sir Arthur Porrit), who is now in London, saying: “Welcome to the club.”