Mr Bolger accused of disloyalty

Press, 3 December 1985, Page 8

Mr Bolger accused of disloyalty

PA Wellington The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, had been conspicuously disloyal to his leader, Mr McLay, said the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, yesterday.

Commenting on problems within the National Party, Mr Lange said at his postCabinet press conference that Mr McLay was entitled to more loyalty than he had been getting from Mr Bolger. In comment on Friday’s opinion poll, which showed Mr McLay with 3 per cent support and the Opposition 18 per cent behind the Government, Mr Bolger said it was bad news for the National Party.

He said it was the second time running that National had been 18 points behind the Labour Government in over-all party support. “There is a clear message to the party. We have yet to persuade the voter that we are a better alternative,” Mr Bolger said. Mr Lange said yesterday that such comments were not exactly becoming of a deputy party leader. f ‘Mr Bolger has been conspicuously disloyal in that,” Mr Lange said. “I have a real concern about a one-

party State developing in this country.” Mr McLay said that Mr Lange’s concern and solicitude for the welfare of the National Party were “touching but hardly convincing.” “The fact is that the last time Mr Bolger was asked about the subject, which was just after the first public altercation between Sir Robert and myself about six weeks ago, he pledged his loyalty to the leadership and said he would not be challenging me for leadership of the party,” Mr McLay said.

He had not sought any assurances from Mr Bolger on the loyalty issue since then.

Mr McLay said that Friday evening’s poll showed clearly the National Party was not getting its message out through the news media.

“We are going to by-pass the media and speak direct to the people using old-style pamphlets .. . and modernstyle video as well,” Mr McLay said.

A video arid 250,090 pamfihlets have been prepared or distribution to party branches. They focus on Mr McLay and the party’s economic policies.