Mr Lange ‘out of touch’

Press, 1 October 1983, Page 9

Mr Lange ‘out of touch’

The confidence expressed this week by the Labour leader, Mr Lange, that Mrs Mary Batchelor would be reselected for the Avon seat was only a reflection of the views of Labour’s Parliamentary caucus, said the Avon electorate chairman, Mr Lou Burns, last evening. “My own personal belief is that that is the feeling of the Labour caucus, which is only natural,” Mr Burns said.

“Mr Lange does not live in the electorate and it has been some time since he has visited it. I think he is out of touch with the electorate.” Mr Burns said he did not think the views of the electorate had changed since

the selection meeting at which Mrs Batchelor failed to win renomination. The decision at that meeting not to renominate Mrs Batchelor was decided by a preferential vote taken among eligible party members present. About 180 voted — and Mrs Batchelor’s one serious rival, Mr Paul Piesse, the secretary of the Storemen and Packers’ Union, beat her by four votes.

Mr Burns said that the electorate had about 350 members and he believed that both Mrs Batchelor and Mr Piesse would be actively canvassing until the second selection meeting. The meeting is likely to be on

November 6, a Sunday. Mrs Batchelor has considerable support among her constituents, but many of those are not Labour Party members. She appears to have lost the support of the unions who got her nominated to the seat against considerable opposition in 1972. Her electorate committee has 27 members and is said to be heavily against her renomination.

So far three have put their names forward for the nomination: Mrs Batchelor, Mr Piesse, and Mr David Penney. Mr Burns said he had heard that others were interested. Nominations will close on October 21.