Poll finds fall in support for Mr Muldoon

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 2

Poll finds fall in support for Mr Muldoon

Popular support for Mr Muldoon as Prime Minister fell from 30 per cent early in November to 23 per cent in the second week of February, according to a survey of 20 main population centres throughout New Zealand. The “New Zealand Her-ald’-National Research Bureau survey, held from February 6 to 10, covered 2000 eligible voters selected on a random, probability basis, double the number sampled by another poll which found that backing for Mr Muldoon had increased. The latest “Herald”-N.R.B. survey frund that support for the Labour leader, (Mr Rowling), in the post of Prime Minister, had risen from 12g42 per cent to 15 per cent and that support for the Social Credit Leader (Mr Beetham) was unchanged at 13 per cent. Mr Muldoon’s support is his lowest since November, 1980, when he also received 23 per cent. In May, 1979, his support was as low as 16 per cent. His highest point since 1978 was 31 per cent in March last year.' .

Mr Rowling’s 15 per cent was his highest level of support since July, 1979, when 17 per cent of voters fancied him in the post of Prime Minister. His lowest score since 1978 was 9 ■ per cent, recorded in November, 1980, and equalled in January and March, 1981. Mr Rowling equalled his peak of 17 per cent in May, 1979. Mr Beetham’s 13 per cent compares with his peaks of 16 per cent, recorded in both January and September last year. His lowest score since 1978 was 9 per cent, recorded in July, 1980. Since the last “Herald”N.R.B. poll, early in November, there was a burst of political activity, leading up to the General Election on November 28, and then a subsidence for the Christ-mas-New Year holidays.

Several prices rose just after the election, and rises in Post Office and Railways charges were announced just before Christmas. The Government named its new Cabinet on December 11.

In the first half of January it became known that the Government had ordered 3 per cent cuts in State spending for the coming financial year. News of the sacking of the Beehive tea lady came right at the end of the polling period. The Labour Party kept fairly well in the public eye during January, and the

party announced its Shadow Cabinet just before the date of the “Herald’-N.R.B. poll. People were asked: “If you were able to vote for any politician in New Zealand to be Prime Minister, for whom would you vote?” The responses, as compared with those in the previous poll, were: Feb, ’B2 Nov, 'Bl

-The poll figures are subject to a maximum statistical sampling error of plus or minus 2 per cent. Among the “all others,” a 1 per cent popularity level was recorded by the Labour member for Christchurch Central (Mr G. W. R. Palmer), the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay), the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair), the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Maclntyre), and the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger). Mr Muldoon is rated higher by men (24 per cent) than by women (23 per cent). He receives his highest rating among Christchurch provincial area residents (30 per cent), people aged 55 and over (30 per cent), and National supporters (64 per cent). His lowest rating is among Dunedin city resi-. dents (15 per cent), people aged 45 to 54 (19 per cent), and Labour supporters (3 percent). Mr Rowling is rated higher by women (15 per cent) than men (14 per cent). He receives his highest rating among Dunedin city residents (24 per cent), people aged 55 and over (19 per cent), and Labour supporters (37 per cent). His lowest rating is among Christchurch provincial area residents (7 per cent), people aged 18 to 24 (11 per cent), and National supporters (nil). Mr Beetham is rated higher by men (14 per cent) than women (11 per cent). He receives his: highest rating among Dunedin provincial area residents (20 per cent), people aged 18 to 24 (17 per cent), and Social Credit supporters (49 . per cent). His lowest rating is among Dunedin city residents (6 per cent), people aged 55 and over (8 per cent), and National supporters (4 per cent). Copyright, 1982 — “New Zealand Herald.”

Muldoon % % 23 30 Rowling 15 12 Beetham 13 13 Lange . 5 6 Minogue 2 2 All others 14 11 Don’t know 21 20 None 7 6