Chairmen stay quiet

Press, 6 December 1985, Page 5

Chairmen stay quiet

PA Auckland National Party divisional chairmen have declined to take any public stance on the party’s leadership struggle. Four of the party’s divisional chairmen have declined to make any public comment on the issue. They said any leadership decision was the sole responsibility of the Opposition caucus; party protocol would be broken if they entered the debate. 9 The Otago-Southland chairman, Mr Duncan Taylor, said the organisation or administration of the party had no influence other than to express its views to local members of Parliament. • The Auckland chairman, Dr Ross Armstrong, said leadership was an issue for the caucus; it would be improper for the party organisation to comment. ® The Wellington chairman, Mr Hamish Buchanan, said he had approached the six members of Parliament in his division in the last week

to convey the attitudes of their membership. Mr Buchanan said it was “absolutely correct” for the party organisation to keep out of the leadership struggle. • The Canterbury-Westland chairman, Mr Neville Young, said his division would take no official stance on the future leadership of the party. Mr Young, a legal consultant, told the “Auckland Star” he was aware that the Ashburton electorate had passed resolutions on Monday calling for the resignation of the party president, Mrs Sue Wood, and the termination of the contract of the secretary-general, Mr Barrie Leay. He declined to discuss them because they had been taken in committee, and the “Star” said he had expressed disappointment in the party member who had leaked them to the paper. Ashburton is the base of the recently reinstated party official, Mrs Margaret Quin.