National Party leadership

Press, 25 October 1985, Page 16

National Party leadership

Sir,—Mr McLay’s rejection of Sir Robert Muldoon on National’s front bench is his loss and the country’s loss. New Zealand is on the brink of a depression. Sir Robert is needed as never before to explain, with his brilliant clarity, the reasons for the very serious situation we are in, and the remedies. His experience in international finance, and his grasp of the New Zealand economy (based on common sense as well as theory) should transcend personal jealousy. The campaign to stick derogatory labels on Sir Robert — “abrasive” “confrontational” and now "divisive” — should not obscure the central facts. He has a tremendous personal following, he understands “middle New Zealand,” and his powers of opposition are formidable. Only a party bent on its own destruction would attempt to bar him from a leading position in its fight to unseat a Labour Govern-' ment recklessly leading New Zealand down a rigidly monetarist path to disaster. — Yours, etc., HELEN GARRETT. October 23, 1985.

Sir,—As an objective observer with no particular feeling towards any political party, I cannotihelp

but admire the courage of Jim McLay. It takes more than courage to make the perfect leader, but it does make a good starting point. — Yours, etc., T. J. MAINS. October 24, 1985.