National Avoiding Promises It Cannot Keep (Press, 9 August 1975)

On 8 August 1975, the National Party of New Zealand completed the selection of its 87 candidates for the upcoming General Election. In light of this, the party leadership issued a warning to its less experienced candidates, advising them not to engage in discussions on topics where party policy has yet to be officially declared. This directive emerged from closed briefing sessions held during the party's recent conference and rally, leading to discontent among some candidates. Miss Marilyn Waring, a candidate for the Raglan seat, publicly criticised the restriction, indicating that her participation in a forum in Te Awamutu might be one of the last opportunities she would have to speak freely on political issues. The forum had raised the housing situation, an area where the National Party has not released a formal policy. The rationale behind this restriction from the party is to avoid candidates making promises that aren’t backed by official party policy. Party leader Mr. R. D. Muldoon has been vocal about the pitfalls of the Labour Government's approach, citing their 1972 manifesto filled with unfulfilled promises. He asserted that the National Party would only make commitments it is ready to keep and emphasised that the next government will focus on repairing the economic damage while reviving the country’s stability. Muldoon has articulated that he does not anticipate a lengthy manifesto and has personally reviewed policies developed by a planning group or spokesperson. Eight significant announcements have been made under “A National Party policy statement,” with each linked to individual candidates or meetings of the party's policy committee. These statements vary in detail and breadth, covering a range of issues including land acquisition, tertiary education bursaries, industrial relations, superannuation, and controlled immigration. However, National Party candidates are not as comprehensively briefed as their Labour counterparts, who possess a detailed 68-page booklet containing current policy statements across various subjects. The National Party appears reluctant to compile a similar exhaustive manifesto. While Muldoon has effectively communicated financial and economic concerns, a complete policy outline of what a National government intends to achieve has yet to be disclosed—a situation that could provide significant insights to opposing parties ahead of the election. The areas still lacking specific policy statements from the National Party include education, housing, international relations, defence, law and order, local government, broadcasting, energy resources, transport, tourism, and sports. These are topics that experienced campaigners could address, drawing on their knowledge of the party's historical context and objectives. Nevertheless, Muldoon remarked on the evolution of the National Party, noting that it has changed considerably from its earlier iterations. He cautioned that candidates lacking comprehensive knowledge of party policy risk facing difficulties, particularly in dynamic settings like political forums. Advising candidates to refrain from such engagements until party policies are firmly established is seen as prudent; however, prolonged uncertainty may prove detrimental if a full policy statement is delayed.

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