Ginger group may field candidates

Press, 21 January 1987, Page 2

Ginger group may field candidates

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The Sunday Club is so dissatisfied with the performance of the president of the National Party, Mr Neville Young, and his party organisation that it is threatening to support “alternative National” candidates for this year’s General Election. The club has written to Mr Young, after only five months since his election as president, accusing him of working against the interests of the party. A stinging attack on Mr Young’s performance is contained in a long letter from the Sunday Club, the party’s ginger group. It was sent to him via the party’s headquarters in Wellington but, because he has sold his house in Christchurch and is shifting his family to Wellington this week, Mr Young had not seen it yesterday afternoon to comment.

“If the National Party

organisation could bring itself to work with the party Leader, Mr Jim Bolger, instead of against him then the prospect of his leading the National Parliament team to victory would be greatly enhanced,” said the secretary-manager of the Sunday Club, Mrs V. Miller.

Sunday Club members had been deeply disappointed in Mr Young's performance as president.

She said he had failed to recognise the feelings and views of the voting public, including, many former National people. Many of his reported views were contrary to the findings of public opinion polls and his television appearances had not helped the National Party. Under Mr Young’s leadership, the party organisation had remained aloof and many prominent people had become disillusioned by what

seemed to be the arrogance and disloyalty of top party officers.

“A number of alternative National candidates have already been chosen and others are considering standing,” Mrs Miller said. "Because of good organisation and plenty of support, they will do well, even if they stand against sitting National members of Parliament” Snide remarks about these people from within the National Party were not helping the cause of winning them back.

Mrs Miller said Sir Robert Muldoon continued to be judged by the news media and public opinion polls as National’s most popular politician.

Sir Robert saw Mr Bolger as the one to lead National back into Government, but if the party organisation were serious about winning it would have to acknowledge Sir Robert’s political strength and encourage him to continue his highly successful public meetings.

She said that to win this year National must have candidates acceptable to the voters.

Instead it was getting Labour rejects, inexperienced youths, super feminists, unsuccessful former candidates, and people chosen for their racial background rather than their ability.