Mutiny for Prebble

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 2

Mutiny for Prebble

PA I Auckland Loyal lieutenants of [the Cabinet ' Minister. i • Mr Richard Prebble, in [his Auckland Central electorate have been dumped in moves which' threaten his grip on the local political machine. ; I ’ Branches I have been picking representativesfor the electorate committee, and chbosing delegates said 'to be against Mr Prebble. p . He will now almost cejr-’ tainly be faced* with [a machine which he does not control. • ; That is expected to put; pressure on him to be; more accountable and [ respectful jf I Labour I policy. The weapon that -gives : the committee .clout is its power over! candidate selection. ; [ The most'emphatic signa! yet that IMr Prebble faces internal parr/ trouble came from the outcome of Three branch meetings on Monday evening I |

Prebble backers w’ere beaten in ballots for delegates to the electorate committee.

The most telling result ■was recorded in the Auckland Central branch meeting] which Mr Prebble attended.

■ Relegates who lost included Messrs Henry Robinson and Chris Pickett. Mr] Robinson is. the present committee's chairman and Mr Pickett is Mr Preibble's electorate secretary.;

His opponents won on the; night in site of a number of supporters who accompanied Mr Prebble and'were allowed to vote. Delegates remain to be selected from. 11 other branches and the party’s affiliated unions.:

Mr Prebble enjoys solid backing from the electorate’s six Pacific Island branches — he is Minister of Pacific/Island Affairs — and retained support in some trade union groups.