‘Socred triggered leadership crisis’

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 1

‘Socred triggered leadership crisis’

PA - Invercargill National’s leadership crisis had been triggered, in part, by the upsurge in Social Credit, the president of the National Party, Mr G. A. Chapman, told the Invercargill Rotary Club yesterday.

He told the Rotarians that this upsurge reflected the "uncertainty” *n the minds of most New Zealanders about the future.,

Mr Chapman said that the latest Heylen poll figures, released at the weekend showed the National Party at 37 per cent and Social Credit and the Labour Party at 30 per cent each. “What that has done is confirmed by the tremendous upsurge that is going, on for the Social Credit Party now at the expense of the Labour Party,” Mr Chapman said. “Although the figures, on the face of it, seem to be encouraging for the National Party — in that it is still ahead, and it is the Labour Party that is losing votes to Social Credit —• the practical effect is that the voting support which is going to Social Credit is coiping primarily from National strongly held ’seats; andthe inevitable effect of that would be a Labour victory in 1981.” Mr Chapman said that he had called on members of Parliament to resolve the leadership crisis with considerable urgency

With the return of Mr Taiboys he believed the National Party.. caucus should be able to settle the matter tomorrow.

The leader of the Social Credit party (Mr B. C< Beetham), said in Wellington that the early return to New Zealand of Mr Taiboys was an “arrogant and gross waste of public funds.” Mr Taiboys was coming back to New Zealand because of the leadership crisis, therefore putting party matters before those of the nation, Mr Beetham said.' ' y' -

“The country was le£ Jkj believe that this trip another of many Under* taken by this Government — was vital to its interv national trading

“Now, however,. In ,oim more example of its abuse of positions of public ,re* sponsibility and power* the National Party,- or certain sections within if/in* tend to bring Mr Taiboys home for no loftier purs pose than to enable! him to participate directly in a n inte r n a 1 party wrangle,” Mr Beetham; said.

“An important overseas mission is being cut short so, that the National Party can settle its own infighting.” .The cost of Mr Tai- 1 boys’s fare back to New Zealand, he said, should be borne by the National Party. ..

“The- party ■-. should understand that in the public' mind at least, . its interests and those of the country as a.whole do not ’■automatically coincide.” Mr Taiboys is due back this morning, two:- days earlier than originally planned.