Mr Rowling says he will stay as party leader

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 1

Mr Rowling says he will stay as party leader

PA Auckland The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rowling, said on his return from overseas last evening that he intended to remain as Labour’s leader.

He scotched speculation about the party's leadership as soon as he arrived at Auckland Airport on his re-' turn from a month-long trip He said that the more he had thought about the future, the more determined he had become to stay as leader. Mr Rowling/ who was welcomed on his arrival by about 100 well-wishers and party officials and four Labour members of Parliament, said he believed he had more support for his leadership than he had when challenged for the post by the deputy leader. Mr Lange, in December, 1980. He indicated that he doubted there would be challenges to his continued leadership of the party, although he said he had not had assurances that there would be no challenges.

side the Labour Party, historically a party of ideas and effervescence, it is just a little bit more difficult, except ... we have a wide range of competence." Mr Rowling said he had widespread support from a cross-section of rank-and-file members of the party. He invited reporters to think back over the last year and find anyone in the party who had either had "the gumption or the guts or the desire" to stand up and say, “This fellow Rowling is not capable of leading the party." Mr Lange was attending a fund-raising meeting in Christchurch last evening and could not be reached for comment on Mr Rowling's decision. The party's former deputy leader. Mr R. J. Tizard, said he preferred to discuss the matter later. The party leadership issue is expected to come before the Labour caucus in February.

The last challenge had taken place without the knowledge of electorate party people. Mr Rowling said. They now knew the situation and had made known their feelings to their members of Parliament, he said. Mr Rowling said that after the General Election he had seriously contemplated that it might be time for a change. Some “quite significant people” who formerly opposed him in 1980 ' were among the first to say: “Whatever you do. do not go now," he said. Asked when he had made a firm decision to continue as leader, Mr Rowling said: “I’m damned if I know, you know, and I do not think it really matters two hoots.” He believed there would be a task for him to unite the party behind him. Asked if it would be a difficult task, Mr Rowling said, “No political task is other than difficult, and in-