Remuera Nationals show strength

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 2

Remuera Nationals show strength

PA Auckland A b>g surge of National Party membership in Remuera over recent weeks was revealed at a secret meeting of party officials on Monday evening. . The increase to more than 3560 will make a big difference in the make-up of the selection panel, which will meet on September 17 to choose the party’s candidate for the 1981 General Election.

A party spokesman yesterday confirmed that the selection panel would be 178 strong — representing one delegate for every 20 branch members. The selection panel is made up basically of ■ committee members of the various branches. Most party sources had thought that few additional delegates would be needed.

Membership rolls closed on Monday. At Monday-

evening’s meeting, Upland was found to top the list] and is entitled to 35 delegates. This means it will have to select 11 more to make up numbers. The Hobson branch, which is being forced to hold another selection meeting after assertions by Mr Highet that last week’s meeting was stacked, is. entitled to select 12 delegates — one more than it chose last week.

The Victoria branch, which is entitled to 31 delegates, will have to select seven more, and the other large branch, St John’s, which is entitled to 31 delegates, will have to select another eight. However, the recent increase of membership means that more than 40 more delegates will have to be chosen before September 17 to maintain the one-in-20 ratio.

The biggest increase has occurred in the Upland’

’branch, where membership ; has reportedly more than doubled to 700 in recent months. ' ]'

The Upland branch is seen! as leaning towards a lawyer,! Mr D. A. M. Graham, who; has conducted an 18 month-: long campaign to take the seat from the sitting member and Minister/ of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet).

The chairman of this branch is Mr J. ,M. Mathieson, who is a partner in Mr Graham’s law firm. Mr Highet will face a crucial test of strength on September 12 when the Hobson branch .meets to reseleci its delegation. After last Thursday’s meeting he claimed it had been stacked by supporters of Mr Graham and he had the result invalidated.

One Highet supporter said yesterday, “If he does not get his supporters on the panel instead of Mr Graham’s, he is going to get egg 'over his face.”