Socred man ahead of Mr Rowling

Press, 5 July 1977, Page 6

Socred man ahead of Mr Rowling

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) has dropped well behind the Social Credit leader (Mr Bruce Beetham * in voters’ reckoning of impressive politicians.

Mr Beecham, who edged Mi Rowling by 2 per cent it November, has now opened s gap of 7 per cent over th( Labour Party leader. Twenty per cent of New Zealanders say Mr Beethair is the most impressive politic lan outside the Nations Party, compared with 13 pei cent for Mr Rowling. Mr Beetham. who is tht Mayor of Hamilton, has nevei been elected to Parliament. The Prime Minister (Mi Muldoon) has improved his standing from 27 per cent is November to 30 per cent at the end of May, but he remains far below his rating fot a ear earlier. The Deputy Prime Minister, (Mr Taiboys) continues to be reckoned increasingly impressive, but Mr Michael Minogue, the member of Parliament for Hamilton West and a former Mayor of Hamilton, has suffered a sharp decline in the rating he won when he flashed on the scene in November. Mr Arthur Faulkner, president of the Labour Partv and No. 8 in the 1975 cabinet, has increased his rating from 2 per cent to 6 per cent and stands third in the list of impressive non-National politicians. The deputy leader of the party. Mr Bob Tizard. stands fifth in the list, with his support unchanged at 1 per cent. Thirty-five per cent of people say that no National Party politician impresses them, and 32 per cent are not impressed bv any politician among the other parties. The findings come from a “New Zealand Herald”National Research Bureau survey of 2000 eligible voters selected on a random probability basis throughout New Zealand. The survey was made during the week ended May 28. Answers to the question, “Which National Party poli-

iel Mr Muldoon is rated higher srtby men than by women (34 ■ per cent to 26 per cent). He Ir: receives his highest ratings is'among Christchurch provinc-n-ial area residents (32 per it I cent), people aged 55 and 5-iover (33 per cent), and National Party supporters (58 i per cent). r, I His lowest ratings occur ej among Dunedin city residents >- (23 per cent), people aged 18 y to 24 (27 per cent) and Values i- Party supporters (8 per cent), d He rates 11 per cent among i. Labour supporters. 19 per Sjcent among Social Credit supe! porters, and 17 per cent M among uncommitted voters. . i The response from those ! j I who say they are not ima i pressed by any National Party 2 politician is highest among “ women (38 per cent). Christ- “ church city residents (45 per J” cent), people aged 18 to 24 •' (45 per cent), and Values and! e Social Credit supporters. s i Forty-eight per cent of I Labour voters and 49 per mcent of uncommitted voters : '( believe there is no impressive l * I National Party politician. People were also invited to : answer the question: “Which n I politician of all other parties , 'impresses you most at the i qpresent time?” The answers,!] 'were: li

J Mr Rowling is rated higher ; by women than by men (14 I per cent to 13 per cent). He receives his highest ratings (among Wellington city resi- • dents (17 per cent), people i aged 55 and over (16 per ; cent), and Labour supporters I <3O per cent). I His lowest ratings come from Auckland provincial area residents (12 per cent), people aged 18 to 24 (9 per cent), and Social Credit supporters (2 per cent). Mr Beetham receives his highest ratings among men (24 per cent), Dunedin city area residents (25 per cent), people aged 25 to 34 (25 per cent), and Social Credit supporters (64 per cent). The response from those who say that none impresses them is highest among women (33 per cent). Auckland City residents (36 per cent), and people aged 18 to 24 (38 per cent). Labour supporters give 30 per cent to Mr Rowling, 12 per cent to Mr Beetham. and 20 per cent to none. National supporters give 5 per cent to Mr Rowling. 23 per cent to Mr Beetham, 1 per cent to the leader of the Values Party (Mr Tony Kunowski). and 37 per cent to none. Values supporters give 4 per cent to Mr Rowling, 12 per cent to Mr Beetham. 8 per cent to Mr Kunowski, and 43 per cent to none.

Social Credit supporters give 2 per cent to Mr Rowling, 64 per cent to Mr Beetham, and 21 per cent to none. Uncommitted voters give 3 per cent to Mr Rowling, 13 per cent to Mr Beetham, and 50 per cent to none. New Zealand Herald, copyright, 1977

Ir tician impresses you most at n the present time?" were: Nov. May le May 1977 1976 1976 1 Muldoon .. 30 27 43 W; Taiboys 9 7 4 71 i Gordon .. 4 4 1 i Minogue .. 3 •7 MacIntyre .. 2 3 4 81 All others 7 11 4 ;r‘ Don’t know .. 10 7 10 Is one 35 34 34

u s May Not. 1977 1976 May j 1976 ; >■ % t’ % v Beetham .. 20 16 17 1 Rowling .. 13 14 22 ! s Faulkner .. 6 •» 3 d Finlay .. 2 2 I I Tizard .. 1 1 1 i All others . . 11 11 3 I • Don’t know . 15 15 18 1 - None 32 39 30 •