LEADERS’ VIEWS ON WOMEN 'AVERAGE’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33979, 21 October 1975, Page 3

LEADERS’ VIEWS ON WOMEN 'AVERAGE’

/ Press A.ssocii’»»»n> AUCKLAND. October 20. The Prime Minister; (Air Rowling) and the Leader of the Opposition (Air Aluldoon) have come out of the Women'sElectoral Lobby survey of all candidates for the election as average candidates, favourably disposed to women’s; issues.

But the survey says that they are not likely actively to promote campaigns for women’s rights. Mr Rowling gained a final score of four and Mr Muldoon 4.5 for answers. This was counted good for M.P.s of senior or Ministerial rank, “who tend to be cautious in their replies,” says the lobbv.

The leader oi the Social Credit League (Mr Bruce Beet ham) also scored four, and the Values leader. Mr Reg Clough, eight. Top scorer from the candidates interviewed was Ms Cathy Wilson, deputy leader of the Values Party, with nine out of 10.

An official lobby spokeswoman said that there was! “n significance” in the t difference between Mr .Mui-; •idoon and Mr Rowling be-, ,jcause Mr Muldoon had access : ;to the questionnaire before’ Ihe agreed to submit to the !i survey interview. ;i “We believe Mr Muldoon j lhad an advantage on certain* questions because he knew; what was in the question-; inaire." The lobby presented the ; jsurvey results today as “form }

guides" for the information of voters. It did not mean to tell any - j 'one how to vote, nor was itj [endorsing or campaigning for! those who ranked high. A spokeswoman. Mrs| Marijke Robinson, said at a [press conference that the|lobby was surprised that; more candidates did not j score below zero. Only four of nearly 400; interviewed were in the! minus zone, which the lobby! believed indicated a candi-■ date probably not worth supporting. with views that [ were generally unfavourable I to women.

s ; Those who failed the test J with minus marks were the (Minister for Internal Affairs (Mr May), who topped the — failures with minus two. and I Sir Roy Jack. National candidate and sitting member for Rangitikei, minus 0.5. I Mrs Robinson said that the seriousness with which the questionnaire was taken and Ithe higher scoring than was; (generally expected, showed; (there was a tendencv towards! change She- said that the lobby! was optimistic about legislation on women’s issues which (might be passed in the next! three years, whichever party! won power. The general high scoringj for Values candidates was reflected throughout the Wellington electorates, with six out of 10 candidates topping the scores given. i Dr G. A. Wall, the sitting member for Porirua, who introduced the controversial : i Hospitals Amendment Act, is ] bottom scorer for the Wellington region, with zero. Mr Muldoon hesitant Only 16 out of almost 400|j .candidates standing in the II General Election were not in-ii ;terviewed and assessed, al-. I though Mrs Robinson said.i (there was considerable re-p isistance from the National ; Party. < ! She said that the lobby had it reason to believe the ques-il jtionnaire was available top (National Party sitting mem-it ibers before they were inter-it viewed. it ‘This could mean that)their replies were less spon-; taneous and could have led 11 Ito their achieving results! (which might not be truly! comparable." Mr Muldoon scored well ini • the key questionnaire areas! of "discrimination” and|< (•‘awareness.” The Nationalp I Party leader fopd initially 11 hesitated over completing I the survey because he be-; lieved the scoring system i was questionable. , Candidate withdraws. —if The Values Party candidate)! for St Kilda in the Generali] Election (Mr Norman Meads): is withdrawing from the elec-i, tion for family reasons. Nominations are now being). • called for a replacement.—' (P.A.)