Early election ruled out

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 44

Early election ruled out

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, has ruled out calling an early election later this year, saying such a move would be “most unfair” to his political opponents.

But he also conceded there was a case for going to the public and telling them that economic circumstances had changed. An early election would be most unfair to the

National Party, he said

“Out of the boundless charity of this Government, why should we want to go and kick poor, defenceless people around in an election?”

Labour would get another three years in power, but would wait until September next year — when an election was due — to do it. If he was seriously

going to talk about an election, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, “would have to lie down with an aspirin.”

“They are not prepared for it. You know when they are not prepared for it is when they call for one. They are calling for one right now. Well, wouldn’t they be in a state of shock if we gave them one?”