N.Z. Party will continue under new leadership

Press, 5 August 1985, Page 1

N.Z. Party will continue under new leadership

PA Auckland The New Zealand Party ended its annual conference with a political unknown as its leader, a new top team, a revamped party structure, and a determination to remain a force in politics.

To the theme tune from the film, “Star Wars,” the three-day conference closed yesterday after a call from the new leader, Mr John Galvin, a Matamata dairy farmer, to “roll up our sleeves and get to work.” In keeping with the determination of delegates to keep the party going without its former leader, Mr Bob Jones, the restructured ruling council of the party met immediately after the conference late yesterday afternoon to begin planning new strategies.

The conference had to replace virtually the entire party hierarchy because of resignations after the attempt last month by Mr Jones and the former president, Mr Malcolm McDonald, to put the organisation into an 18-month recess.

Of the once 12-member council, Messrs Jones and McDonald resigned a fortnight ago; Mr lan MacPherson, of the Wellington division, quit after confrontations between Mr Jones and reporters last month; Mr Mike Radford of the Southern division retired months ago because of work pressure; and Mrs Margaret Evans, who is Deputy Mayor of Hamilton, resigned during the conference to “go fishing” for a year. Delegates voted for a new 14-member council made up

of the leader, deputy leader, president, vice-president, the chairmen of the five divisions and one councillor elected by each division. Mr Graham Wiggins, the Wellington division chairman, was elected party president. Mr David Phillips, the. East Coast Bays candidate at the snap General Election last year, became vice-president. The former vice-president, Mr Earle Thompson, of Auckland, did not stand again after losing his quest for the leadership to Mr Galvin.

' Changes during the conference were so swift that, of the nine persons confirmed on the incoming council by yesterday, only five were members of the old council, and only three of those were on the new council in the same capacity as before the week-end. Mrs Janie Pearce, who with Mr Thompson had been most publicly identified with the party during the crisis of the last month, remains the deputy leader. Nobody challenged her for the post. The conference decided on Friday, its first day, to keep the New Zealand Party alive when it broke into four discussion groups, each of which affirmed to stay in business without Mr Jones, who founded the organisation two years ago, made up many of its poli-

cies, and paid for much of its running costs. It was only as the weekend progressed that delegates put forward ideas on how to exist without Mr Jones.

Five more members still have to be found or confirmed for the restructured council, whose first priorities will be to redraw the divisional boundaries and to institute systems to fund the party machine. The leadership election became a contest between Mr Galvin and Mr Thompson, after a third contender, Mr David Parlour, of Tauranga, withdrew, apparently to improve Mr Galvin’s chances.

The election of a president yesterday was to have been between Mr Wiggins and Mr Larry Timberlake, of Auckland. Mr Timberlake withdrew his nomination, giving the presidency to Mr Wiggins, later to stand unsuccessfully against Mr Phillips for the vice-presi-dency. In his inaugural leader’s address to close the conference, Mr Galvin drew applause when he set out to impress on delegates that the New Zealand Party must be seen to be different from Labour and National.

“Never again do I want to hear the statement that this party is winding down its activities or going into recess because we do not

want to hurt the Labour Government,” said Mr Galvin.

He attacked the Labour Party as despising individuals and worshipping the State, but said National was no alternative, as its leader, Mr McLay, would do and say anything to become Prime Minister, yet had sat in the Muldoon Cabinet as Attorney-General when National’s economic regulations had been passed. Mr Galvin said Mr McLay “worked for the re-election of the Muldoon Government and if it had been re-elected would still be doing what (Sir Robert) Muldoon told him to do. No, Jim, the people of New Zealand are no longer that gullible.” Turning to face the lineup of new council members, Mr Galvin promised to be a leader who left party administration to the council while he presented party philosophy and policies. “But I give you fair warning Mr President, that I expect dramatic things from you and your team of administrators over the next few months.

“I say to you, delegates ... you must go back to your electorates and build this party from the base up. Support your council and your political wing by constructing your part of the vehicle ... (to) ... carry our message to the people.” Background, Page 4