Nat. group attacks own leadership

Press, 12 March 1985, Page 1

Nat. group attacks own leadership

By

KARREN BEANLAND

Political reporter Groups of National Party supporters in Christchurch and other centres have launched a direct attack on the party organisation and leadership, which they have described as “inept.”

The groups, called the “Sunday Club,” have been formed in Christchurch, New Plymouth, Napier, Hamilton and Wellington in the last few weeks. More are being set up, according to the Christchurch publicity officer, Mr Alex Hoggan. The Christchurch group, the first of the Sunday Clubs to go public, issued a statement of its aims yesterday.

Mr Hoggan said the groups had been formed because the National Party was not getting good direction “from the top.” Party supporters were being driven away because they were becoming disillusioned. Mr Hoggan said the groups were critical of the party president, Mrs Sue Wood, its director-general, Mr Barry Leay, and its Dominion council. They were also disappointed with the performance of the leader, Mr Jim McLay. The groups believed that the former leader, Sir Robert Muldoon, was “100 per cent right” when he blamed last year’s election defeat on the party’s poor organisation.

National had never had a better opportunity than now to capitalise on the Labour Government’s “atrocious” handling of the economy and A.N.Z.U.S. There was a host of issues the party could attack, such as inflation and rising food prices, but instead “we are being side-tracked by issues such as homosexual law reform.” A private citizen, Dr Jim Sprott, of Auckland, was doing what the National Party should be doing in campaigning about the Government moves over A.N.Z.U.S. Mr Hoggan said his group believed that National needed an experienced businessman or woman as president. They felt that Mrs

Wood lacked experience and that she had overstepped her authority last year by making it clear in party circles that she wanted a change of leader. He said that the party’s Dominion council had been undemocratic and had not respected the views of all party members when it considered the leadership issue last year. Although Mr McLay was popular within National Party ranks, members of the Sunday Club were disappointed with his performance as leader and believed that Sir Robert would have done much better. “Even the most fervent supporter of Sir Robert said we must give the new leadership a fair opportunity to develop in the job, but eight months after the election we are still waiting for Mr McLay to put on a good show.” Many National Party supporters had left the party, either dropping out of politics or joining the New Zealand Party, because they felt they were not wanted. They became disillusioned because they were “talked down” at party meetings or because their views were ignored. “They have never been asked to contribute. All that is asked of them is their money," he said. People who had become involved in the Sunday Club did not see any point in taking part in the party’s

organisational review, which has been in progress since the election defeat. Mr Hoggan said there were hundreds of people involved in the groups, but said he did not want to name the members until they had advertised for support and organised public meetings. The Christchurch group included representatives from every electorate in the city and surrounding districts. Some of its members were people who had campaigned for Sir Robert at the time of the leadership battle last year. The group had not approached Sir Robert, however. Mr Hoggan said the aims of the Sunday Club, which was so named because it met on Sundays, were: ® To rebuild a strong party organisation by correcting present defects. © To ensure that future leaders in the organisation adhered to the party’s principles and philosophy. © To encourage strong, experienced leadership in all executive positions in the party. 9 To ensure that the views of members would be heard. O To ensure that the next National Government is elected because of its merit, not because of Labour’s “mismanagement.” Members of the club planned to stand for office within the National Party organisation to promote their aims.