Support mounts for Mr Quigley

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 2

Support mounts for Mr Quigley

PA Wellington Mr Derek Quigley, who resigned from the Cabinet on Monday, was last evening “overwhelmed” as criticism of the “apologise or quit” ultimatum of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) flooded in. National Party officials and several National members of Parliament were vehement in their condemnation of Mr Muldoon’s definition of collective Cabinet responsibility, which he insisted Mr Quigley, who was Minister of Works and Housing, had breached in his Chateau Tongariro speech on June 7. But as the telephone calls and telegrams continued late yesterday, Mr Muldoon, with the clear backing of many in his caucus, was unmoved by the flood of reaction which has surprised even Mr Quigley. ■ . The tenor of the comments from within the National Party clearly astonished Mr Quigley. . “I am very encouraged with those comments,” . he said. I.Mr Quigley will take several days .to decide whether to remain as member of Parliament for Rangiora or resign, and force a-by-elec-tion, which could bring, down the Government. But as members of Parliament and party officials lashed out at Mr Muldoon for what they saw as the suppression of free speech, the Prime Minister rejected this interpretation. After refusing requests for formal interviews, Mr Muldoon safd he was not trying to “stifle public discussion of the Government’s growth strategy." The strategy had been a major election issue and there was no way debate

on it. or the Government's economic record and policies. could be stifled. “Mr Quigley in an address which he claimed was strictly for the Young Nationals, but which he nevertheless distributed to the whole country through the Parliamentary Press Gallery, attacked both the National Party's policy and its record.” Mr Muldoon said. “He should have known that he could not do that and remain in the Cabinet. That was the sole reason for his dismissal. It became a question not of Mr Quigley’s honesty and integrity but of the integrity of the Cabinet of the National Government,” said Mr Muldoon. Although National Party headquarters in Wellington maintained its “no comment” stance on the row yesterday, many party officials were unrestrained in their . reaction. The Wellington division’s chairman, Mr Julian Watts — a leading member of the party's liberal wing /— said the division was, “dismayed and bewildered” and could see no justification for the ultimatum. Mr Quigley’s home division of Canterbury-Westland took a similar line. The controversial speech was re-read to a meeting last week in Mr Quigley’s electorate, and the electorate chairman, Mrs I. McFadden, said that “rio-one considered it out of order.” Angry Young Nationals said that Mr Muldoon was wrong to force the resignation. Whangarei National Party people expressed support for Mr Quigley.. The Ashburton electorate chairman, Mrs Lee Burdon, appealed to the public to

"stand up and be counted." Reactions from Government members of Parliament varied widely. Mr N. P. H. Jones (Invercargill) said Mr Muldoon had "over-reacted." and that his ultimatum to Mr Quigley had been unacceptable. Another backbencher, Mr M. J. Minogue (Hamilton West), attacked the "incompetence” of other Cabinet Ministers, and increasing Prime Ministerial power. Mr R. M. Gray (Clutha) said that Mr Quigley had “brought it on himself.” Mr G. E. Lee (Hauraki) said that the resignation was regrettable but necessary. Mr D: A. Angus (Wallace) said, “Mr Muldoon .is the leader.”' N The youngest member of Parliament, Mr S. D. Upton (Waikato), said that he was surprised if Mr Quigley’s speech had angered people, and he would make his views known in caucus. Miss Ruth Richardson (Selwyn). said that she -was “dismayed" ■'at Mr Quigley’s resignation. ; Strong support for ’Mr Quigley came from Mr D. L. Kidd (Marlborough), who said, that he agreed with everything in the speech. The Minister of Transport. (Mr Gair), the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay), and the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Couch) said that they were sorry Mr Quigley had resigned. Mr R. L. Bell (Gisborne) said that he had the highest regard for Mr Quigley but he could not totally support his Mr Pi C. East (Rotorua) said that Mr Quigley was an “extremely capable Cabinet Minister,” and that "the whole issue had been blown up out of all proportion.” >