Nelson M.P. to be an Independent

Press, 27 March 1981, Page 2

Nelson M.P. to be an Independent

PA Nelson The Labour member of Parliament for Nelson (Mr M;.F. Courtney) will becomei an- .independent member of; Parliament on April 1. I Mr Courtney said from : Wellington yesterday that he: would allow his Labour 1 Party membership to lapse: on March 31. Letters to this effect were : mailed by Mr Courtney,' yesterday to the Leader of, the Labour Party (Mr Row- 1 ling) the party’s national: president (Mr J. P. Ander-i ton), the Clerk of fe House; (Mr C. H. Littlejohn) and * the chairman of the Nelson; Labour e'ectorate committee. (Mr R. Bingham). Mr Courtney’s letters advise that from April 1 he will represent the Nelson electorate as an Independent.'

However, he said yesterday that he had not decided whether to contest the General Election as an Indepen-i dent. He thought he would: make a decision in Aug-; ust.

Mr Courtney has been a member of the Labour Party for 18 years and the member of Parliament for Nelson since 1976. 'His decision to let his membership lapse was the only ethical thing he could do, he said. “More and more policy is being released at Labour caucus meetings. I felt 1 could not stay in the caucus, I would not. want to be accused of sabotage or anything like that.” He did not attend the regular Labour caucus meeting at Parliament yesterday as he represented Nelson at an Aged People’s Welfare Council meeting. Mr Courtney said, he had been under no pressure, from his Parliamentary colleagues to leave caucus but he felt it was the honourable thing to do.

In the approaching session he would vote on issues purely on whether they were good for Nelson and New Zealand. He felt no obligation to support the Labour Party. .“I have tb apologise to those people who, in voting for me, were voting for the Labour P?rty. 1 hope they will accept my decision in good grace,” he said. He also hoped his Labour colleagues would accept his decision to leave the party. “But I am acting in a fairly natural way. I think we have seen the end of the two-party system with Social Credit coming :’n. I think Independents now have some chance.”

Mr ; Courtney said he believed party politics were not strong in Nelson, a belief many of his colleagues found hard to accept. At present Mr Courtney shares •la Parliamentary bench with j the Labour member of Parliament for Taupo (Mr J. W. Ridley). He expects to be moved to a bench near to the two Social Credit members ’of Parliament. He occupies an office on the third floor of ! Parliament buildings near IMr Rowling’s suite. While |he was quite happy to re- | main there; 1 Mr Courtneysaid he would; understand if others wanted him to move.

Mr Courtney is on several agricultural "and primary produce-oriented select committees. He wants tb stay on these and would like a seat on another committee, such as public , expenditure or a copimerce-related one. Asked what .would influence him to contest the General Electibn.as an Independent, Mr Courtney listed as main factors: ,

— Policies announced by other parties; — The support given him as an Independent member; and

— Whether his candidacy would be in the best interests of Nelson.

Although people said the life of an Independent would be lonely, Mr Courtney said his role as a party member of Parliament was often lonely.

“We all come from different backgrounds. It is only a working relationship really.”

However, there would be some sorrow in cutting ties with the party. “I will now have the unique luxury of being able to place my vote where I think it will do the most good,” he said. Mr Rowling, said yesterday that he was not surprised at Mr Courtney’s decision. .“He has every right to sit out his term as an Independent and we will not do anything to frustrate him,” said Mr Rowling, at a press conference.

Mr Rowling . said he thought that as far as Mr Courtney’s electorate matters were concerned, Labour members of Parliament would be supportive of him.

While he was not surprised at the decision, he was sorry to see the resignation because Mr Courtney had been, a? reasonably active member of the Labour caucus. However, the situation had become difficult because of statements issued by Mr Courtney contrary to Labour policy. Mr Rowling said it would be interesting to see which way ■Mr Courtney ■ voted on critical issues in Parliament. . People would. ..be watching to see whether he supported Government decisions or aligned himself more with . the - issues of Labour. , :.

He said Labour fiad a fine candidate who jjwould. stand for the party at? the General Election in'Nelson.

Discussing his'personal relationship with, MnCoiirtney, Mr Rowling said it would be fair •to say, lit had been somewhat strained and .“a bit difficult.”