The rise and fall of Values: what comes next?

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 17

The rise and fall of Values: what comes next?

Dr Alan iWilkinson (left), who works as a computes* programmer at the University of Canterbury’s computer centre, says Value? people are different in their attitudes ito authority, and the way they run thein ihomes and treat their children. “IfVyou go to a Values Party conference it is a real shock to come back to straight world. It is a real culture shock to see the way the other political parties work, particularly on the sexist question.”

By

BARREN BEANLAND

Only six years ago, the Values Party was seen, bv some people, as the third New Zealand party. Since then its impact has fizzled. Evidence of its decline is only too easy to find. With 500 members throughout New Zealand, and only 50 in Christchurch, membership has dropped by two thirds. At the recent Values Party conference a team of three leaders was chosen ' because, in the words of one member of the team, nobody who was in line for the position of leader wanted to take on the job.

In May, 1976, Values was virtually neck and neck with the Social Credit Political League, attracting seven per cent support in the public opinion polls. By December last year, its support had dwindled to one per cent, while Social Credit was topping Labour at 31 per cent. What happened to Values? Dr Alan Wilkinson, the Values candidate for Yaldhurst, so far the only candidate chosen by the party for the Christchurch area, and one of the three party lead'ers, is surprisingly candid about the party's recent fortunes. Basically, his explanation is that the party was too successful in the early days for its own good. "When we started in 1972 it was a pretty novel idea to set up a political party on a different philosophy of values — the environment and women's issues were important. The party was formed by young, middleclass people "who had been through the Vietnam war,” he says. “I think they surprised themselves with how many votes they got. And they doubled the vote in 1975. That made them enthusiastic and unrealistic.” One of the reasons for the . relatively big Values vote in 1975 was electoral disillusionment with the performance of the Labour Government. That support, says Dr Wilkinson, was not forthcoming in the 1978 election. because voters went back to Labour in ah attempt to oust the National Party from power. He adds that it was diffi-

cult for Values to sustain its initial support because it lacked the historical and class base of a party like Social Credit.

He agrees that the decline of the Values party since its hey-day in 1975 has caused a

“great deal of upset” within the party. Values’ early success made party members think it would "be easy to get political power. The disappointing results of the 1978 election left the party with a $20,000 debt, now reduced to $4OOO.

"They made attempts to get more organised. They mimicked the other parties in organisation and running candidates in every electorate, spending what was for them a great deal of money.” The leadership struggles which have occurred within the party since 1978 have added to the. disillusionment of those who had campaigned hard in the 1978 election. In May 1979, Mrs Margaret Crozier replaced Mr Tony Kunowski as the party leader after a bitter internal struggle. ' ■

Only a month later, Mr Kunowski allowed his membership to lapse, saying the party had "voted itself -into political obscurity.” A former deputy leader, Ms Cathy Wilson, also resigned in protest against its "Marxist’’ and "intellectual” poll-

cies and because it was

becoming “hierarchical and

authoritarian.” Dr Wilkinson says that Mrs Crozier only beat Mr

Kunowski by a narrow margin. and that many people loyal to Kunowski, particularly in Christchurch, with-

drew from the party as a result of the leadership change.

However, he does not think the leadership battle represented a struggle between the environmentalists and the socialists in the party as some political commentators suggested. He points out that the same conference which ousted Mr Kunowski adopted his “socialist” remits. "But I do think it is true that the people who dropped out in Christchurch were those from the trade unions who have gone back to Labour,” he says. The party’s leadership problems did not end there. In the wake of the 1978 failure, Mrs Crozier was chosen as leader “on a policy pretty well of non-electoral involvement.” At the end of last year the issue came to a' head, because some members felt a non-electoral policy was not successful and had weakened the party. The decision to go back to the polls led to Mrs Crozier's resignation at the' party conference in New Plymouth at Easter. Perhaps there is a simpler reason for the decline in

support for Values — that its “philosophy of values” does not go down in the hard, cold, political world. Dr Wilkinson does not agree. “Values is only talking to 10 to 20 per cent of the population,” he says. “Values is non-hierarchical — almost anarchistic. Let's face it, most people don't relate to that.” He goes even further in saying that most of the 10 to 20 per cent which is sympathetic to Values’ ideas would not even vote for the party. “I don’t see in the near future Values ever being a mass-based political party.

That doesn’t mean we don't have an effect because these 10 to 20 per cent are often well-placed people who can have an influence. Most of them wouldn't vote for us because they are allied to other classes: farmers to National, the working class to Labour, and small businessmen to Social Credit. People identify with their classes.” This is not a worry to the party because it is no longer in the race for political power. Dr Wilkinson sees influence as more important. “Our joke is that if we were elected to the Government we would demand a recount. “I don’t think we can ever win an election. At,present we couldn’t even get one candidate elected, though that could happen if proportional representation does come in,” he adds.

"Our aim is to change public opinion. We have never wanted to be the Government in the traditional sense. We don't believe in central government — a certain amount of central government is needed but decisions should be made at the lowest possible level.” The party’s aim, then, is to change the style of government through its influence, rather than to become the Government. How successful can it be in that aim? Dr Wilkinson says the influence strategy has already had some success. He cites the whole field of energy and Labour’s arid Social Credit’s policies on the environment as examples of the influence of Values. He also maintains that public opinion is already changing. The National Government has helped in

'..a . S'. this area by making people feel powerless to change things they do not like and because of the growing gap between rich and poor. Electorally, while “it was never realistic to think we could become the Government,” Values still attracts some votes and can upset the other parties in marginal seats, he adds. Dr Wilkinson believes that Values should change its approach from the “shock tactics” used in the 19705. "Things have changed and we have to change our tactics. People in the 1970 s were much more complacent. Recent changes such as the energy crisis, have made .people very uneasy. Shock tactics aren’t needed any more and I think we should

take on a more reassuring role. “People will swing tomore authoritarian modes of government in times of difficulty and become less tolerant to change. That is quite a danger that we feel we have to counter. I don't think we should do it by being too strident.”

; He adds that party members who stood by i Values when its electoral support dropped off probably have a more realistic understanding of what the party can achieve. “I think Values has become less extreme.” He says that one of the main aims for the party this year is to build up its organisation for the future. “We don’t plan to try to build up the membership. What is im-. portant is to feel that we are achieving things with the membership we have.” Dr Wilkinson does not see the decay of the party as a

reason for desjjnjr. While membership has'Wropped by two thirds, he points out that at $lO its membership fee is higher than thoue of the other parties, land that members are expected to be active. ',| The election ofithe troika, a three-pronged (leadership, also has a positive ’ side. Dr Wilkinson says the* party was conscious that the/leadership was a burden for one person, since it could not| afford to pay for a full-tinVe leader, and previous leaders had tended to burn, themselves out. t -. While he is notl sure yet how well it will jwdrk, "he says that having : tftrefe leaders in different parts of the country will keep (lie party more in touch with small places and reduce? travel costs. ' 'I •

"We had a long discussion on leadership roles} It was important to look at what a leader can do that! nobody else can do: provide |a stable image and share tliie information that he or sfte gets. But the other leadership

members so we have! to make them consciously aware that we are not g'bing to do all things. It is part of our philosophy that we djon't want a hierarchy.” I What,' then, does Vallies expect to do this year? IDr Wilkinson’s first point is wat election strategy is up hto individual . branches to (decide. Some may choose ito field candidates. Others, lijke Horowhenua, where tjhe branch is putting together fan

issue paper which will be put to the candidates from other parties, may try to influence those who are standing rather than complicate the race.

Across the country the party expects to have between 15 and 20 candidates, a number based on the estimated membership of the party and the financial support it can provide. Dr Wilkinson thinks another Values candidate will conie forward in Christchurch, possibly in the eastern or southern area of the city to give a balance. Values could also stand in Rangiora. < '

"We have taken a hardnosed attitude about putting up candidates.” he says, adding .that he had decided to stand in Yaldhurst, where his wife stood for Values in the last election, because it is a marginal electorate.

Also, he says he disapproves of many of the Labour attitudes of the Labour member of Parliament for Yaldhurst, Mr Mick Connelly.

"For the Christchurch region we are happy not tc oppose those who are saying things we like,” he adds.

On policy, he says the party is building on 'principles and on the policies presented in .previous manifestoes. A current policy manual is being prepared.

Policies cover energy, freedom of information, education, new technology, natural resources, women's rights, environment, military alliances, and race relations.'

By taking an issue-raising approach is there not a danger that Values will be seen as a bunch of protesters by voters? ' "We always have been a bunch of conservationist protesters. We do have a lot of positive things to say but it is important that we do protest to stop things. It is vital. We have fought against a lot of bad , decisions, like Manapouri. and I think it has , been valuable.” Dr Wilkinson freely admits the Values party is at a lowebb. "This election will be our lowest vote because of Social Credit and because we have been inactive. We have to accept that and look beyond.” Dr Wilkinson does not mind waiting, for he is confident that the important changes in society will come — albeit slowly.