Quigley ‘affair’ may give Mrs Wood better chance of presidency

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 3

Quigley ‘affair’ may give Mrs Wood better chance of presidency

By

KARREN BEANLAND,

Political reporter

An unexpected off-shoot of the Quigley “affair" is that it may have given Mrs Sue Wood a better chance of becoming president of the National Party, a Christchurch political scientist. Mr Alan Mcßobie, believes. '

The new president, who will succeed Sir George Chapman, will be elected at the party's Dominion conference in July. The three candidates are Mrs Wood, Mr Eagan Ogier, who won the CanterburyAVestland division's nomination, and Mr Pat Baker.

Mr Mcßobie said that he was not predicting that Mrs Wood would win the party presidency, but events this week had strengthened her chances.

One reason was that support for the member of Parliament for Rangiora, Mr Derek Quigley, was among the younger members of the party. This was also where Mrs Wood drew her support. Most Young Nationals supported her.

Another reason was that Mr Ogier had strongly supported the action taken by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). • Mr Mcßobie said 'that he believed a change was starting to take place in the National Party at divisional level.

Although the CantefrburyWestland division had nomin-

ated Mr Ogier for the presidency. it had strongly sup-

ported Mr Quigley in his dispute with Mr Muldoon. The Wellington division, of which Mr Ogier was a former chairman, had nominated Mrs Wood for the presidency.

Before this week's events, Mr Ogier had the "inside running" for the . post of president, said Mr Mcßobie. He had been nominated by three of the five divisions. The balance might now have been redressed in Mrs Wood's favour.

The outcome would depend on the composition of’ the divisional delegations to the conference. Mr Quigley's resignation from the Cabinet could affect the selection in divisions where the representatives had not already been chosen. Local observers believe that it is unlikely that Mr Quigley will resign from

Parliament altogether. On Monday Mr Quigley had said that .he would discuss his future in Parliament with his electorate and his colleagues. Yesterday both Mr Muldoon and Sir George made it clear that they wanted Mr Quigley to remain in Parlia-. ment.

The Canterbury-Westland divisional chairman, Mr R. J. Gerard, said that he had discussed the matter with Mr Quigley briefly and that he was confident there would not be a by-election in Rangiora. Both Mr Mcßobie and the professor of political science at the University of Canterbury, Professor keith "'Jackson, said that they would be surprised to see Mr Quigley resign.

Mr Quigley was very much a "party man." and would be reluctant to bring about a by-election which could force a General Election. If he did resign, it would present a grave danger for the Government, thev said.

Mr Quigley would still exert considerable influence on the party from the back benches because he was a popular and respected figure in the party, said Mr Mcßobie.

“In some ways being on the back benches may free him from constraint," he said:

The Labour Party’s president, Mr J. P. Anderton, said from Auckland that Labour would win Rangiora if a byelection was held. The party had already begun an audit of the electorate.