I would accept -Sir Robert

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 3

I would accept -Sir Robert

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney The former National Party leader, Sir Robert Muldoon, has said on television in Sydney that he is prepared to take up the leadership of the party if it found itself in trouble. Sir Robert was speaking on Channel 9’s Willisee current affairs programme screened on Thursday evening. Asked twice whether he would be prepared to take up the leadership again, Sir Robert at first was noncommittal, but later said he would accept the challenge. In a brief programme describing Sir Robert as on the political comeback trail, the former Prime Minister was shown on his Auckland radio talkback show and giving stinging speeches “like a revivalist nreacher” In interviews for the Aus-. tralian programme, Sir Robert said the present National leader, Mr Jim McLay, needed to “get a bit of confidence and start sounding as though he believes in himself.” Asked the first time what he would do if he was offered his old job back, Sir Robert said, “That’s a hypothetical question that’s not worth answering at this stage because we have a leader, he’s been elected by the party caucus, and the question of another leader doesn’t arise.” But asked four days later whether he would take on the job again if the circumstances were right, Sir Robert said, “If the circumstances weren’t right... I mean you don't refuse a challenge — at least I don’t.”