Beetham hints at seat choice

Press, 17 May 1989, Page 5

Beetham hints at seat choice

By

GLEN PERKINSON

The Social Credit leader, Mr Bruce Beetham, may stand for Parliament in Palmerston North next year. The former member of Parliament for Rangitikei said he would almost certainly not stand there in 1990, but in a neighbouring electorate. He had decided against his former Socred stronghold because his once large support base had been split. In Christchurch this week, Mr Beetham also ruled out standing in a National Party stronghold. That left him two options — Palmerston North or Wanganui. Both are Labour-held, but the sitting members of Parliament — the former Minister of Revenue, Mr Trevor de Cleene, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall — are retiring at the end of this Parliamentary term. Mr Beetham hinted that Palmerston North was his favoured seat.

He said a strong swing away from Labour in 1990 would see votes in Wanganui split between him and the Democrat candidate, Mr Terry Heffernan.

Mr Beetham was in Christchurch on a nationwide tour to gather support for his party. He said it had met with good support in provincial areas and now the task was to improve support in metropolitan areas. He said the party’s membership was growing and it was in the black, but would not reveal details.