Mr Marshall says party vigorous

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33084, 27 November 1972, Page 19

Mr Marshall says party vigorous

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 26. The Prime Minister (Mr Marshall), putting on a cheerful front to reporters, said that the result had shown clearly that “it’s been a time for a change.”

“It’s not so much a swing against the National Government, which has not dropped its vote much,” he said, “but an increase in the Labour voters who did not vote in the last election or voted Social Credit.” Mr Marshall said that the National Party had conducted the best campaign he thought it was capable of doing. “Looking back over the campaign, I have no regrets because the organisation of the National Party has been very efficient,” he said. “I am sorry at losing so very many fine members, particularly Duncan Maclntyre (Minister of Maori Affairs). He will be a real loss to Parliament. “We have also lost, I regret to say, some very able members some of whom were clearly of ministerial quality.” The Prime Minister thanked the National Party’s supporters who had remained loyal throughout and had worked with dedication and enthusiasm. "I don’t think anyone anti-

cipated the extent of the swing," Mr Marshall said. “It was not apparent in the campaign nor in the public opinion polls which look as if they were further out than ever before." Mr Marshall promised that the National Party would be “very vigorous and effective” opposition in Parliament. “I believe what I said throughout the campaign that there are many expensive promises that the Labour Party has made and It will not be possible to carry them out without very considerable increases in taxation,” he said. Soviet nuclear tert The United States has picked up seismic signals presumed to be from a Soviet underground nuclear explosion, the Atomic Energy Commission reported. This is the eleventh presumed test this year reported by the commission, which has also announced one confirmed Soviet test. — Washington, Nov. 26.