Sydenham’s M.P. may be ‘deemed to have resigned’

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 1

Sydenham’s M.P. may be ‘deemed to have resigned’

Parliamentary reporter

The Labour Party Council would probably take the view that the member of Parliament for Sydenham, Mr John Kirk, had resigned when it met this week-end, said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lange, yesterday.

At a post-caucus press conference Mr Lange said that Mr Kirk would not be “kicked out.” “But there are some nle who will be deemed ive resigned if certain courses of conduct have been entered into,” he said. Mr Kirk’s claims of selection “jack-ups” by the party’s president, Mr Anderton, will be examined by the council in Wellington, probably today. Mr Lange said that the status of Mr Kirk within the Labour Party had already been resolved.

“The party has rules that resolve these issues without the party’s having to make a formal judgment,” he said. “Conduct and actions which are contrary to the rules of the party disqualify one

from being a member of the party.” Mr Kirk was not at the caucus yesterday. “He is away this week,” Mr Lange said. “In that respect he is probably in a somewhat different climate from the Prime Minister right now.” Asked if he would put a case to the council that Mr Kirk’s actions had been inconsistent with membership of the party, Mr Lange said he would put a view if asked. “It is fair to guess that someone who, in the House, condemns a Parliamentary candidate (Mr Anderton)

running for the Labour Party will be considered by people in the party to have forfeited the respect of the party,” he said. “The rules of the .party are pretty clear. You do not campaign against party candidates — and that is what has happened.” There was a “certain inevitability” about the judgment of the council, Mr Lange said. Mr Kirk had withdrawn himself from the party. The caucus had reviewed candidate selection procedures in Avon and Dunedin Central, but made no resolution. The review did not

look at constitutional defects in the selection process, he said.

“It was a report by me to the caucus and discussion was very short.” Mr Lange declined to comment on his opinion about the desirability of Mr Paul Piesse, the challenger of the sitting member in the Avon electorate, Mrs Mary Batchelor. The council would consider that matter, he said. The Press Association reports that Mr Lange will act as advocate for the ousted candidate, Mr Brian MacDonell, before the council today when it hears Mr MacDonell’s case for retention as member in the seat which will be reconstituted from Dunedin Central to Dunedin West.

A civil engineer, Dr Clive Matthewson, defeated Mr MacDonell, who has been a member of Parliament for 20 years, at the candidate selection last week, amid angry scenes. Mr MacDonell has since claimed there were constitutional irregu-

larities. Mr Lange said yesterday that Mr MacDonell’s case rested on that basis alone.

Irregularities Mr MacDonell alleges include one member of the selection panel not fulfilling the one year’s party membership qualification at the time of the opening of nominations.

He also said that ballot papers had not been numbered, had been given to people who did not qualify, and some of his supporters had been harassed at the door of the

meeting. The council will also consider the deadlocked selection for the Avon seat, where the sitting member, Mrs Batchelor, is being challenged by Mr Piesse. Mrs Batchelor is favoured to retain her grip on the seat. Two points in her favour are that she is a woman member and that Mr Lange does not want disaffected Labour members at a time when he is emphasising the need for party unity. Mr Lange said the council had the options of appointing Mrs Batchelor, Mr Piesse, someone else, or reopening nominations.