Selwyn candidate

Press, 25 February 1981, Page 20

Selwyn candidate

Sir, — I write in support of Ruth Richardson, candidate for the Selwyn electorate for the National Party. I was persuaded to attend the.annual meeting of the Halswell branch last evening (February 21). Ruth Richardson gave what I considered to be an enlightening and humorous address. This included an insight into her political philosophy and personal thoughts on a wide range of subjects. I was particularly impressed with , her friendliness and total frankness. I like the way she answered the-;;difficult questions. I commend attendance at any opportunity any citizen may have to see, hear and meet this new candidate — to see “for themselves.” —Yours, etc., (Miss) J. E. GRIGG. February 22, 1981.

Sir, — The National Party candidate for Selwyn has painted herself into a corner over the purchase of rural property and is now trying to slam everyone else to cover her embarrassment. She is an employee of Federated Farmers and, in the December issue of their official newspaper, “Straight Furrow,” there is a feature in political pages about her — one would presume as the result of an interview by a fellow employee. It says in that article: “Ruth Richardson is swapping her eighth floor corner office as a ‘Featherston Street farmer’ for a cropping operation on the Canterbury Plains.” Anyone with any knowledge at all knows full well that a cropping operation has to be more than 10 to 20 ha to be viable, especially as it must also sustain a manager. — Yours, etc., MARGARET CHURTON. February 17, 1981.

(Ruth Richardson, National Party candidate, Selwyn Electorate, replies: “I resigned as the legal adviser to Federated Farmers at the end of Janua'ry, so" it is'no longer correct to describe me as ‘an employee of Federated Farmers’. The politic cal feature to which the correspondent refers was written by Colin James, not a fellow employee,” ■as incorrectly claimed, but a political, free-lance journalist who contributes to publications such as the “National Business Review.” I have no control over a reporter exercising journalistic licence; that, it seems, is an occupational hazard of political life. I intend to secure a stake in the Selwyn community by the purchase of a small rural property. For that I make no apology.”)