Sir Robert to address 1000 in Christchurch

Press, 18 April 1985, Page 9

Sir Robert to address 1000 in Christchurch

BY

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The former Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, has accepted an invitation to address a public meeting of more than 1000 in the Christchurch Town Hall on May 15. This follows up the announcement last week by a Christchurch businessman, Mr Qui Van der Veer, that he planned to write to Sir Robert to invite him. Mr Van der Veer’s campaign began last month when he advertised in Christchurch newspapers on behalf of “lost, embarrassed, and angry” National Party members. He had already approached Sir Robert to come to Christchurch, and been told that if he got 1000 local people to attend, Sir Robert would come. Sir Robert’s response to the initial approach had been that any politician “would go to talk to a meeting of 1000 people.” Mr Van der Veer’s ad-

vertisement said: “Is there nobody out there who cares what happens to the New Zealand economy, our standard of living, our old people’s income, interest rates, inflation? Do they all agree with Labour or are they told not to speak up? “Dear'Sir, leader or not, will you please consider our humble request. If we gather 1000 caring people will you please talk to me and give us your views of the state of the nation and how you see a chance to turn the tide so that once more we can be confident, proud, and happy members of the National Party.” Sir Robert said he had now heard from Mr Van der Veer. Now that 1000 people were prepared to attend the meeting, he would certainly travel to address it. He had received similar approaches to address meetings at Hamilton and Kapiti, but arrangements were not as far advanced for those and no date had been set yet.