Sir Robert still cagey about bid

Press, 31 October 1984, Page 3

Sir Robert still cagey about bid

PA Wellington The Leader of the Opposition, Sir Robert Muldoon, yesterday heightened speculation that he might join the race for the National Party leadership, saying that he had not accepted that there would be a new leader. He said he was not convinced that National had an alternative team which could oust Labour. "I have enough selfconfidence to know that I could, because I know what is required,” he said. A National Party Dominion councillor, Mr Julian Watts, accused Sir Robert of disloyalty, and said he was misreading the situation if he was thinking of standing again. The National party’s president, Mrs Sue Wood, said the focus of the party was on the four announced aspirants for leadership. “There is a great deal of excitement in the party as to who the next leader is gong to be,” she said. Sir Robert said his feeling

was that of the four contenders, the deputy leader, Mr Jim McLay, had most support. Asked if he would feel ay with Mr McLay as ir, Sir Robert said, “That I am not sure of.”Asked if he had accepted that there would be a new leader he said, “No.” “I am not yet convinced that we have an alternative team that can throw this crowd out and I have enough self-confidence to know that I could, because I know what is required,” he said. Sir Robert did not think he had enough support in the caucus to retain the leadership but he doubted that any one contender had a clear majority. Sir Robert named one of the leadership contenders, Mr George Gair, and Mr Watts as two National Party members who wanted to “crucify” him.

Sir Robert said he had had nothing but disloyalty from Mr Watts since he became leader and that Mr Gair was the brains behind

the 1980 “colonels’ coup,” the unsuccessfur attempt to depose him. “There are people in the party, principally in Wellington, who have been after my blood for years.” On radio yesterday Sir Robert said there were “thousands and thousands and thousands of people who are saying ‘Rob’s the bloke who’s done a lot for us’.” Sir Robert said he was getting support from people from all over New Zealand wanting him to stay on. Mr McLay said that the leadership contest “in a curious sort of way” might be helpful to the party “provided it is done on a civilised level. "If it gets into any personal comments about other contenders, obviously we will have difficulties,” he said. Mr Watts laughed when Sir Robert’s comments were put to him. “All I have to say to that is that I am satisfied that I am a very loyal National Party member,” he said. Further report, page 6