'Dominion’ ban 'last straw’

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 4

'Dominion’ ban 'last straw’

The Government’s ban on the “Dominion” newspaper has been a catalyst for some people to join the New Zealand Party, says the chairman of the party’s steering committee, Mr J. H. F. Macfarlane. Mr Macfarlane said yesterday that many people supported the newly formed party because they believed that New Zealand was no longer a democracy. “The ‘Ddminion’ ban is

one substantial symptom of a malaise which runs deeper,” he said. Although he could not say that the ban had led directly to an increase in party membership there were certainly some people who saw it as the last straw. Mr Macfarlane said that the party was doing “extraordinarily well.” Support had come from as far afield as Dunedin and Invercargill. However, he would not release. the party’s member-

ship figures since other political parties did not release theirs. The party had attracted support from all Christchurch electorates. Electorate committees would be set up in each electorate, including Selwyn, even though the party did not plan to oppose the member for Selwyn, Miss Ruth Richardson. The party will open a permanent office

fields next week. The office will have one full-time and two part-time workers and will replace a temporary office in Victoria Street which has been open for about two weeks.

Mr Macfarlane said- that the office was the first the party had opened outside Wellington. It would probably be Open on Monday, although this would depend on when its telephone was connected.