National loss blamed on philosophical split

Press, 24 September 1984, Page 6

National loss blamed on philosophical split

PA Wellington Loss of clear philosophical direction was one of the main reasons for the National Party’s General Election defeat, said its president, Mrs Sue Wood. Mrs Wood told the East Cape electorate in Whakatane on Thursday that National’s defeat was selfinflicted. She said the three reasons for National’s defeat were that it had been in Government for a long time and people were tired of it; that it no longer articulated a clear philosophical direction

against which its policies could be measured; and that the New Zealand Party capitalised on the split in philosophical direction and cost National seats. “We lost, Labour did not win. Labour has only 43 per cent of the vote — a tenuous hold on power in spite of its number of seats,” she said. “In the face of recession and declining • terms of trade, we implemented policies for New Zealand which finally broke the threshold of tolerance of a large num-

ber of supporters and interest groups. "Out of our attempts on the one hand, to support our Government’s measures and on the other hand to ensure that our philosophical base was not shifting, we divided. Socialist Governments come to power when we divide philosophically.” When the philosophical direction lacked clarity, if there was no standard to lead or follow, no vision and no enthusiasm, the centreRight splintered into personatity cults and the

Socialists snatched power, she said. The party had blamed the leader and the campaign organisation for the defeat, Mrs Wood said. “Both should carry their portion of blame — the leader on the one hand, the president on the other,” she said. Mrs Wood said that Sir Robert Muldoon had said he was unlikely to be a contender for the leadership when the caucus decided the issue early . next year. Those who sought the post should be ensuring that the period of transition was their opportunity to demonstrate their leadership qualities. The Dominion Council of the party had also agreed i to a thorough review of » the party organisation, she ’ said. >