Sunday Club might form a new party

Press, 3 December 1985, Page 8

Sunday Club might form a new party

PA Wellington Continued rejection of Sir Robert Muldoon by the National Party’s leadership could lead the Sunday Club to break away to form a conservative ‘‘Kiwi Party,” said the club’s Wellington chairman, Mrs Sue Mackay, yesterday. "If the National Party continues to ignore Robert Muldoon’s high doublefigure ratings in the opinion polls in favour of other leaders, there seems to be no other alternative for the Sunday Club but to heed the loud call of the grassroots to form a conservative ‘Kiwi Party’,” she said. Mrs Mackay said that to replace Mr McLay with his deputy, Mr Bolger, would be ludicrous, as it would achieve nothing. Sir Robert had consistently polled higher than any other candidate for the

party’s leadership since his relegation to the party’s back benches.

“The party is divided into two factions — the liberals, who would be better suited to joining the New Zealand Party, and the conservatives,” she said.

At present, Mrs Mackay said, there was no Opposition and New Zealand was a one-party State. Sir Robert was the only person capable of bringing funds and membership back to the party and the grassroots were calling for his immediate reinstatement as leader. When asked whether Sir Robert had been approached about the proposal for a “Kiwi Party,” Mrs Mackay said he was aware of Sunday Club feelings. Support for the Sunday Club, she said, was possibly stronger than the National Party’s total membership of a little under 100,000.