Attacks on Sir Robert ‘must stop’

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 1

Attacks on Sir Robert ‘must stop’

PA Wellington Attacks on the National Party leader, Sir; Robert Muldoon, had to stop, said the Party president, Mrs Sue Wood, yesterday. "Attacks on him, and any retaliatory action, do the party no good at all,” she said in a radio interview.

“My advice to the party is to refrain from public debate.

“At the same time I ask the contenders for the leadership, including the leader, to focus on constructive comment relating to our party.” The leadership question would be resolved before Parliament sat again in February, Mrs Wood said. She would not elaborate on a date.

She urged National members of Parliament to get close to their electorates

and to “listen to the party.”. Mrs Wood’s comments follow up reports that four Remuera electorate officials have resigned in protest about delays in replacing Sir Robert. Six Wellington area chairman have called for Sir Robert to step down before Christmas, but another Wellington division electorate chairman has supported Sir Robert’s staying until February.

Mr Don Liddle said yesterday that he believed a poll of his electorate (Horowhenua) would find most people in support of Sir Robert — “the talkbacks certainly show many support him. “Suddenly we have struck a rough patch and the knives come out quickly,” he said.