Rumours on Mr Talboys denied

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 4

Rumours on Mr Talboys denied

PA ■’ . Gore An assertion that a successor had been chosen for the member of Parliament for Wallace and the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) has been strongly denied by a National Party official. The chairman of the Gore branch of the Wallace electorate (Mr A. R. Barnett) said yesterday there was no truth in a Press Association report that the branch had decided on a successor. The question had never arisen, he said. Mr Barnett said that Mr Taiboys had not made any suggestion to the branch about his political future.

The Press Association report suggested’that the Gore branch knew Mr Taiboys planned to Retire and had decided whom it would sup-oort-as his ; .successor. Mr Barnett said he was

astonished at the report. The author of the report had not consulted him before writing it, he said. Mr Barnett said Mr Talbovs was keeping his cards “close to his chest,” concerning his retirement. Nominations would be called later in the year, and the picture would be clear b” then, he said. In a later message from Wellington, Mr Taiboys said last evening that he would inform his Wallace electorate ■ .cials “in due course,” about whether he would stand for Parliament again in 1981. Mr Talboys declined to comment on - his future plans. In reply to a question, he said- simply that he would inform his electorate organisation "in due course.