Centrist Govt gains ground

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 8

Centrist Govt gains ground

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

A more Centrist Labour Government, less at the mercy of Left-wing and Right-wing elements, has gained ground against National in the latest opinion poll. The “Eye Witness”Heylen September poll showed National’s lead of 16 per cent in August was down 5 points to 11 per cent.

Support for National fell from 55 to 53 per cent and for Labour rose from 39 per cent to 42 per cent. Support for the Democrats fell from 4 per cent to 3 per cent. The number of respondents who said they were undecided rose from 25 per cent to 29 per cent — almost three times the size of the gap between National and Labour. This was the first

opinion poll since the Labour Party annual conference in Dunedin and the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle, and showed the most positive trend in Labour’s favour in any poll so far this year. The economic indicators also favoured Labour. On the question of approval of the Government’s handling of the economy, there was 31 per cent support and 58

per cent disapproval, but approval of Government handling of interest rates rose about 50 per cent. In the preferred Prime Minister stakes, support for Mr Lange was stable at 23 per cent for the second month. Support for Mr Winston Peters rose from 18 to 19 per cent and the support for his leader, Mr Jim Bolger, fell from 12 to 10 per cent.