National Party leadership

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 20

National Party leadership

Sir,—The National Party must be in a very sorry state indeed if there is no-one other than Sir Robert Muldoon capable of being the leader. If the party is so bereft of talent that it is virtually a oneman band, it can have little hope of regaining its lost support in the foreseeable future.—Yours, etc., E. THOMPSON. July 23, 1984.

Sir, — The incompetence of Sir Robert Muldoon has never been more clearly illustrated than during and since the recent election. He named the date and the issues on which it was to be fought. As a result of his decision his party suffered a crushing defeat In an efficient organisation the reward for gross incompetence is the sack. — Yours, etc., JOHN G. FREEMAN. July 22, 1984.

Sir,-Miss Ruth Richardson’s frustration over the leadership struggle of the National Party is quite understandable. She reaUses only too well that Sir Robert Muldoon is being offered as a sacrifice for the weak behaviour of th# party as a whole. Thisgtvill be unacceptable to all New Zealanders. Equal blame must be at-

tached to the Cabinet and senior members of the party, and henceforth the electorate will have no faith in any of them. How they could stray so far from the stated aims and objects of the National Party is unbelievable. Only the sacking of another 10 or so, including the party’s president, could hope to start restoring credibility. By then events will have overtaken them in the shape of the New Zealand Party.—Yours, etc.,

A. R. MACDONALD. • Annat, July 22, 1984.

Sir,—One must admire the stamina and courage of the unretired, defeated heavyweight champion of New Zealand, but now be saddened by the counter-punch drunk quality of the performance as he bounces off the ropes and throws a flurry of punches at his opponents and his own handlers, oblivious of the fact that the bout is over. The nation needs a break from pugilistic politics. The sporting metaphor needed to lift our sights ought to be drawn from the rowing eight as they once again seek to row against the odds towards a shared goal which they can only achieve by bending their arms in disciplined harmony.— Yours, etc., LYALL LUKEY. July 22, 1984.