Labour will contest N. Maori by-election

Press, 15 March 1980, Page 3

Labour will contest N. Maori by-election

PA Wellington The National Council of the Labour Party decided yesterday to contest the Northern Maori by-election. The seat is at present held by Mr Matiu Rata, who has said he will resign and stand as an independent candidate. The Labour Party’s president (Mr J. P. Anderton) said yesterday’s decision was made “more in sorrow than in anger. This situation has been brought about by Mr Rata and not . by the Labour Party,” he said. He added that while it was sad to contest the seat, the party would fight to win. A decision on a candidate would be made after talks with the Maori people.. It was possible the candidates would be decided be-

fore Mr Rata resigned, but the council did not want to take any action which might precipitate his resignation. i Mr Anderton said the party was not complacent in its victory chances. “Mr Rata has been a member for some years and will no doubt have some support and loyalty from his people. We are not the enemy of the Maori people and only seek to continue our representation of them,” he said. Labour’s policy in the byelection would focus on the economic plight of the Maori, Maori issues, and reform. “The real question is how best can a minority group be represented. Will they follow a major party as has been the case for 45 years

or step outside the system?” said Mr Anderton.

National Party’s opposition to the election was questioned by the Social Credit leader (Mr B. C. Beetham). Yesterday he said he could not accept that the reason for the party’s opposition to a by-election lay in its concern at the expense to the taxpayer, when its policies in general showed “scant regard for the taxpayer.” Mr Beetham said he believed the real reason the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and the National Party caucus did not want a by-election was that the National Party, already in third place behind Social Credit in the seat, was concerned at the probability of ending in fourth place.