N.Z. Party hopefuls seek leader’s role

Press, 3 August 1985, Page 1

N.Z. Party hopefuls seek leader’s role

The search for someone to fill the shoes of the former New Zealand Party leader, Mr Bob Jones, is expected to dominate the second day of the party’s conference in Auckland today. Three had entered the contest by late last evening, although others were expected to put their names forward for election by the time nominations close early this afternoon. The three notified hopefuls are Messrs John Galvin, aged 36, a Matamata dairy farmer, Earle Thompson, aged 43, who was the party’s candidate in Rodney in last year’s General Election; and David Parlour, aged 42, a Tauranga kiwifruit grower and exporter. All have spokesman roles in the party; Mr Galvin is reponsible for agriculture, Mr Thompson handles trade and, industry, and Mr Parlour is spokesman on tourism. Mr Thompson is also the party’s vice-president. The deputy leader, Mrs Janie Pearce, confirmed last evening that she would not contest the leadership. An election will be held tomorrow to find a new president to fill the position

vacated by Mr Malcolm McDonald, of Christchurch.

Nominations for president close tomorrow, and it is believed that some likely contenders are awaiting the outcome of the leadership vote before .publicly declaring their intentions. The resignations of Messrs Jones and McDonald, and the party’s former director-general, Mr Charles Begg, were accepted without dissent by the 200 delegates attending the conference. The mood of delegates was positive yesterday, and little mention was made of the stormy events of the last few weeks. More volatile debate is expected today during discussion on remits, particularly those relating to welfare reforms, education, and law and order. Other topics expected to feature in today’s discussions include funding and a proposal to expand the party’s council. Delegates were adamant yesterday that the party would not fold. Workshops dismissed any suggestion of going into per-

manent recess or dropping out of politics. Both Mrs Pearce and Mr Thompson were overwhelmed with the confidence emanating from delegates. The morning discussion had set the tone of the party’s future, they said. “They now know that they have not got a god-father left, and that it will be their own individual hard efforts which will make the party work,” Mr Thompson said. The conference opened with an address by Mrs Pearce, a brief discussion of constitutional matters and then moved on to debate the motion of whether the three-day event would confirm that the party had a continuing role to play in New Zealand politics.