Political trend worries N.C.C.

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33933, 28 August 1975, Page 12

Political trend worries N.C.C.

The National Council of Churches is concerned about the way politicians seem to attack one another while evading the real issues facing New Zealand. The council’s annual meet- | ing in Christchurch expressed ' concern about this after a delegate, Mr D. McEldowney, I said that politicians seemed I Ito be intent on rushing to ; their own destruction “by throwing Watergate labels at ieach other.” I The resolution notes, “that I the annua] general meeting expresses concern at some of I the trends in political conI troversy as the General Elec-

tion approaches, and calls upon political leaders, parties, the media, and electors, to attend to the real issues before the country. Needlessly bringing into disrepute the reputations and intentions of opponents endangers respect for the whole democratic process.” Mr McEldowney said that a recent national opinion poll had shown that Mr Rowling’s Ipopularitv was slightly down, ' and Mr Muldoon’s popularity was slightlv up. He said that a fact which had emerged from the poll, but which had not been prominentlv publicised. was that most of the New Zealanders surveyed had found none of the country’s politicians “particularly impressive.” 1