M.P. looks a stayer

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 1

M.P. looks a stayer

Parliamentary reporter Room G 54 in Parliament Buildings — the backbencher’s office now occupied by the former Minister of Works, Mr Derek Quigley — looks like the office of a member of Parliament who has no intention of resigning. It has been repapered and fitted out, and memorabilia line shelves and walls. Mr Quigley has kept silent on his future plans, fuelling speculation that a resignation from Parliament is not completely out of the question. He plans to make his announcement some time

this week, but it seems certain that he will stay on as member for Rangiora. His resignation from Parliament became a possibility when last week’s pricewage freeze was seen to epitomise the . excessively “interventionist” role of the Government, a role Mr Quigley has denounced. As the Government caucus united behind the package it became possible that Mr Quigley might resign his seat to force a reconsideration by the Government of the policies that he believes to be central to the National Party’s future success at the

polls. This week Mr Quigley will round up the opinions of Rangiora, National Party branch chairmen. They are known to be solidly behind ■ his staying in Parliament, and he attaches considerable weight to their preference. He said yesterday that if he resigned from Parliament he would never again stand, and that he had been a firm National Party supporter for more than 30 years. He clearly sees that he is best placed to press in caucus for close scrutiny of matters vital to the future of the party.