National resignations over M.P.’s comments denied

Press, 31 October 1984, Page 9

National resignations over M.P.’s comments denied

National Party officials says there is no evidence to support an assertion that party members in Selwyn have resigned because of anti-Muldoon comments by the member of Parliament, Miss Ruth Richardson. The chairman of the West Melton branch of the National Party, Mr lan Cunningham, said yesterday that Miss Richardson’s public criticisms of Sir Robert had led to a spate of resignations. He declined to say how many had resigned, but said hundreds of people from all over the electorate were dissatisfied with Miss Richardson. She should have directed her criticisms of Sir Robert through the party, not the news media, he was re-

ported as saying. Mr Cunningham also said he expected to be “censured” by the electorate organisation for raising the issue. The Selwyn electorate chairman, Mrs Jeanette Miller, and the party’s Canterbury divisional secretary, Mr Graham Johnstone, said Mr Cunningham had no evidence to support his assertion. Mr Johnson said that his office maintained the membership records for all Canterbury and Westland electorates and there had been only three resignations from Selwyn in the last month. Two of the persons had mentioned the leadership issue as one of the reasons for resignation.

“If Mr Cunningham has got any resignations, they should be in here,” he said. Mrs Miller said that Miss Richardson’s call for an early decision on the party leadership had almost total support within the Selwyn electorate. She had been in touch with many in the party organisation, and they were preplexed at Mr Cunningham’s comments. “He is doing the same thing he is accusing Ruth of doing,” she said. The electorate executive would decide what to do over Mr Cunningham’s comments at its next scheduled meeting at the end of November. Miss Richardson said last evening that her public comments about the leader-

ship faithfully reflected the views of her electorate. Two electorate and several branch meetings had been held since the General Election to study every facet of the party’s performance, including the leadership. The present dispute illustrated her reason for wanting an early decision on the leadership. She had said at the outset that leadership transition was never tranquil. “I would rather spend my energy on analysing the Government’s performance and developing our policy,” she said. “I am sorry we are being deviated from that path. Until we do address the leadership matter, we r will continue to be deviated from that path.”