Mr McLay’s ‘toughest test’

Press, 24 July 1985, Page 28

Mr McLay’s ‘toughest test’

By

TIM DONOHUE

Wellington

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, believes he has survived one of the toughest tests faced by any New Zealand political leader since he took over late last year. Mr McLay made this point in an interview with NZPA concerning next week-end’s National Party conference in Christchurch. “Personally I think I’ve probably come through the toughest period that has

been imposed on any leader of a political party. “I’m still here and I’m still fighting,” Mr McLay said. He said since defeat in the snap election of July last year, the party had undergone a period of real heart-searching and self analysis. But it was now in a positive mood after the June 15 Timaru by-election victory, said Mr McLay. He also pointed to New Zealand Party “disarray” and Sunday Club subsidence.

The party president, Mrs Sue Wood, told NZPA that a feature of this year’s conference would be the tighter agenda, a move away from formal remit discussion and more time for informal question-and-answer • sessions. The full conference will consider at least eight remits on A.N.Z.U.S., farm settlement, education, national superannuation, the economy, taxation, welfare and trade union membership. Mr McLay, who will give the keynote address on Sat-

urday evening, described the remits as general in nature.