General Election

Press, 7 December 1978, Page 20

General Election

Sir, — Your correspondent, Mary Irvine, asks why is Mr Muldoon criticised. Quite apart from his very unstates-man-like behaviour on the stage, on one occasion on a TV interview, Mr Rowling had to ask him to be courteous. He is not, as your correspondent suggests, “trying to pull New Zealand out of a huge overseas debt,” but is actually taking New Zealand deeper into debt, both externally and internally. The position of World Bank chairman is passed around all small nations so it is not necessary to be good at figures to obtain that position. I am not saying that Mr Muldoon has not got a positive side to his character but then there are many wellintentioned people in every party. Just as a good mechanic cannot mend a car with scissors and a knittingneedle, neither can Mr Muldoon rectify our economy by using the wrong economic tools. — Yours, etc., JOHN J. FORSTER. December 5, 1978,

Sir, — I would like to express my fervent hope that Mr Chapman, the National Party chairman, will back up the many members who do not in fact blame Mr Muldoon for the swing against the Government in the recent election. If, as is being surmised, the fault lay with the Muldoon image, he is undoubtedly man enough to consider this aspect of the election campaign and to do what may be required to rectify the situation. Any attempt to give credence to the theory that the conduct of Mr Muldoon on the television session of Sunday, November 19, was to blame for the election result, is being very unrealistic according to the way in which it appeared that on the whole TVI was biased in favour of Mr Rowling. Much of the blame could well be levelled at the casual approach shown by some of the candidates towards the grievances of constituents. —Yours, etc.,

L. E. REID. December 5, 1978.

Sir, — In Mary Irvine’s book (December 5) Mr Muldoon is a fine politician. It would all depend on if her book is in the format of the old “Comic Cuts” or the current “Financial Times” as to whether her remark is to be taken seriously. In an interview with Cedric Mentiplay reported in “The Press,” December 4, Mr Muldoon states that there would be “continued overseas borrowing” and “they will not alter our debt service ratio.” In view of these assertions, how can your correspondent’s idea of a fine politician pull New Zealand out of the huge overseas deficit? More borrowing means debt; not altering debt service ratio means status quo. Mr Muldoon has no power to alter basic mathematical formula, however much Mary Irvine might wish to think so.

Chairmanship of the World Bank is purely honorary and is not dependent on proven economic capabilities. — Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY. December 5, 1978.