National deserves to win election—claim

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 2

National deserves to win election —claim

By

KARREN BEANLAND,

in Nelson

The National Party deserved to win this year’s General Election, but it would not be easy, delegates at the party’s CanterburyWestland divisional conference in Nelson were told at the week-end. The key speakers emphasised that the Government had a good record to defend, but the party had to be prepared for a tough election campaign. The conference was quiet, with few controversial issues raised. Debate on policies and philosophy was seen as less important than building strength and commitment in the party organisation. Delegates said they left feeling happy with the mood of unity and confidence at the conference. But the confidence was tinged by the awareness that it may be easier for a political party to win power than for a party which has been in office for several terms to hold on to it.

The Mayor of Nelson, Mr Peter Malone, appeared to set the tone for the conference at the start

when he warned the delegates not to “blow it” by dissention within the party ranks. He described the inde-pendent-minded member of Parliament for Rangiora, Mr Derek Quigley, as a good friend, but called on the party to show support for the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon. The deputy Prime Minister, Mr McLay, later echoed the call and the delegates responded with enthusiasm. Sir Robert, who cut his overseas trip short by a day in order to speak to the conference on Saturday, gave a relaxed and entertaining speech. It was warmly received and delegates appeared willing to accept his positive tone and forget any disagreements or differences. This did not prevent the divisional chairman, Mr Jim Gerard, making reference to what is still a sore point for many in the division. He said that Mr Quigley, . who was forced to resign his Cabinet portfolio in 1982 after publicly disagreeing with the Government’s economic direction, should be back in the Cabinet.

“We have in Jim McLay a young, vigorous Deputy Prime Minister. We could also do with Quigley in there, too,” he said to applause. Mr Gerard spelt out the main message of the conference when he said that the Government had a record of achievement that had taken foresight and political courage. The party had returned to its principles and knew where it was heading. The Government had not travelled an easy road, and the road ahead would not be easy either. “Provided we can show the way out of the freeze, the way out of the monetary controls we have now, and can clearly show most New Zealanders the prospects ahead, then we not only deserve to win the next election, we will win it,” he said. The Minister of Tourism, Mr Talbot, said the National Party had to explain the Government’s achievements, such as the reduction in inflation and interest rates. "Short term, emergency” regulatory measures had been necessary. On the other side of the ledger, the Government had dismantled

regulations controlling transport, meat processing and industry and it had introduced voluntary unionism. The member of Parliament for Fendalton, Mr Philip Burdon, said the party’s electon platform this year would include “the remarkable effectiveness” of the Government. “The reality is that the election will not be easy. We deserve to be elected on the basis of our record, but the fact is that we are going to have to work extremely hard,” he said. The Labour Party was as well organised as it had ever been. It was well motivated and National should not under-estimate its effectiveness on the ground, “no matter how ineffective they seem in public,” he said. The National Party could not expect to receive “positive treatment” from the news media. The conference, at the Rutherford Hotel,»• Nelson, on Friday and Saturday, was the first held outside Christchurch. About 225 delegates and observers attended, the biggest turn-out to a divisional conference.