Labour leadership lacks liaison and lustre

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 16

Labour leadership lacks liaison and lustre

By

OLIVER RIDDELL,

in’ Wellington

Predictions a year ago that 1982 would be an exciting year in politics and Parliament have not been borne out. The theory had been based on the closeness of the 1981 General Election. leaving National clinging to power with 47 seats, to Labour’s 43 and Social Credit’s two. It was thought that once National had provided a Speaker for the House, so cutting its working majority to one, exciting times would ensue.

Instead, 1983 has been a dull year in politics and Parliament. In spite of individual excitements and rumblings, the Government has never been under real pressure from the Opposition parties.

Opportunities abounded - the freeze on incomes and prices, worsening unemployment, the sagging economy, closer economic relations with Australia, and alarm over education, health, and social welfare facilities. Divisions have occurred within the Government, notably the sacking of Mr D. F. Quigley from the Cabinet, and a chorus of

discontent from within the Government caucus. Yet, a year after a very close election, and still with a working majority of only one, the Government is sitting calmly and comfortably in office.

A lack of co-ordination between the two Opposition parties and a failure of leadership within the Labour Party have smoothed the Government’s path. The Government does not want to disturb the peace by calling an early General Election.

Social Credit promised it would hold the “balance of responsibility" in Parliament. This has meant opposing thie Government on many issues, but never in a co-ordinated way with Labour. Labour hsis attacked Social Credit as often as it attacked the Government, instead of trying to work with the two Social Credit members.

The Social Credit policy somersault over the high darn at Clyde outraged Labour, but it only further soured already sour relations between Labour and Social Credit.

Social Credit has consistently attacked Labour for granting “pairs” to the Government — a system under which the Govi ernment can retain its majority by matching absent members by arrangement between the party whips. This longestablished practice, convenient for both parties, outrages Social Credit and has worsened relations between it and Labour.

Significant as this lack of coordination has been, the failure of leadership within the Labour Party has been an even greater blessing to the Government. Labour in Parliament is in disarray. This may not be evident to its party members outside Parliament, or to the general public, but it is very evident within Parliament and the Government trades on it.

To a greater or lesser degree, there has been a failure of leadership from the Labour leader (Mr W. E. Rowling), the Deputy Leader (Mr D. R. Lange) and the party president (Mr J. P. Anderton). If Labour as a party has not performed well in Parliament, some individuals have performed very well. This shows that Labour has the talent to be an effective opposition but

that the talent is not being marshalled, co-ordinated, or directed. Before he left for an overseas tour, Mr G. W. R. Palmer (Christchurch Central) had the Government on the run over its administration of social welfare. Mrs Ann Hercus (Lyttelton) has acutely embarrassed the Government over trade and industry matters. Mr D. F. Caygill (St Albans) has shown marked ability in both financia' and energy matters.

Other Labour members have done well, too. Mr S. J. Rodger has been an excellent advocate for Dunedin interests, Mr C. R. Marshall is an expert in education, while Mr R. W. Prebble is a bitter and successful critic of Government policies on Pacific Islanders and the Pacific Islands. Of the newer Labour members, Mr P. Tapsell is becoming a fine advocate for Maori people, Mrs Fran Wilde is now the most persuasive speaker on women's affairs, Mr P. T. E. Woollaston is one of the bestprepared speakers on a wide range of subjects in the debating chamber, and Mr T. A. de Cleene has impressed everyone with his grasp of complex issues.

These members and some others shine in isolation from their colleagues. Co-ordination is lacking. One strong and impressive speech is not followed up by two or three more. Having got the Government on the run, the opportunity is not followed up and the chance to impress is lost. It is the job of the leadership to ensure a strong impression is made. Mr Rowling seems to prefer doing Mr Anderton's job to his own. He seems happiest out of Parliament, talking to party members and the public. He is widely admired and liked within the party, and is close to Mr Anderton and the party apparatus, but he has not provided the leadership his Parliamentary colleagues need in the debating chamber. When Mr Lange tried to topple Mr Rowling from the leadership in 1980, it was generally the long-serving members who supported Mr Lange and the newer ones who supported Mr Rowling. The longer-serving members were acutely aware of the need for leadership of Labour within Parliament as well as outside it.

The latest public opinion polls show the decline in sup-

port tor Mr Howling. The rise in popularity of Mr Lange can only be at Mr Rowling's expense. It is not just that Mr Rowling has not performed well as Leader of the Opposition. or that Labour itself has not done well during the year, but also that Mr Lange did verv well during SeptemberOctober when Mr Rowling was overseas for a month.

Mr Lange left Mr Anderton to lead.the Labour Party outside Parliament, while he led it inside Parliament. The degree of co-ordination was still not very great: Labour speakers and campaigns still had a strong element of "hit and miss", about them, but Mr Lange himself shone. This year has shown that Labour needs leadership within Parliament as well as a healthy organisa tion outside. It is no coincidence that Mr N. E. Kirk became Prime Minister in 1972 and Mr Muldoon in 1975 on the basis of their strong showings as Leaders of the Opposition within Parliament. They tore down the Government of the day and replaced it; that is just what Labour has not been doing in Opposition under Mr Rowling.