Mr Rowling waiting

Press, 4 December 1981, Page 1

Mr Rowling waiting

PA Wellington The leader of the Labour Party (Mr Rowling) will step down if he believes that his departure as leader will benefit his party. Mr Rowling met his party's caucus for the first time yesterday since the General Election gave him his third defeat at the polls since he took over in the leadership of the party in 1974 after the death of Mr Norman Kirk. With the result of the election still hanging on the four National Party seats with majorities of less than 75 votes. Mr-Rowling and his 42 Parliamentary colleagues still believe that New Zealand could end up with a hung Parliament after special votes have been counted. Mr Rowling said after the caucus meeting there was no doubt that he would stay on

as the party's leader if Labour gained one or more seats on special votes to make an early election likely. What would happen if the state of the parties remained at National 47, Labour 43, and Social Credit two would be a matter for decision after the final results were known. Mr Rowling said. “I want to see the Labour Party in government. I will do whatever is necessary and right to see that that happens.” Mr Rowling said he could fairly claim to have made a significant contribution to Labour’s substantial progress in the last two General Elections. “My actions will be determined not by what I personally want to do myself but by what I believe is in the interests of the party,” he said: