Labdur selection

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 6

Labdur selection

Labour Party branches, which want more say in choosing their Parliamentary candidates, have been fold that they already ' have enough power. The power rests in a “straw vote” which is taken among branch members at selection meetings. Some party members maintain that their party constitution does not require the vote to be counted. The Christchurch Linwpod branch asked, the party’s northern South Island.,conference in Blenheim .at the week-end to. change the membership of the : selection panel to give, four places to

the electorate, compared with three places to ? the New Zealand Council of the party. The present system also gives the council three representatives on the panel. Between two and four members represent the electorate, depending on the electorate membership, i. A “straw vote” is to be “taken into account” at the selection meeting, according to the party’s constitution, giving s the electorate at least equal ' standing with the head-office vote. . • Mr G. Stone (Linwood) said that the “straw vote” need not be counted, thus

giving the head office a voting advantage in certain circumstances. ?:7. “Any democratic constitution should not allow electorates to have candidates foisted on them,”. Mr Stone said. - But Mr J. Hercus, a member of the party’s executive which represents the council at selection meetings, told “The Press” that the executive had resolved to count the “straw vote” in the present round of selections. Giving local branches a majority on branch meetings could give branch factions a chance to foist a. "candidate on the electorate. - .