Liberal Reform Party (New Zealand)

The Liberal Reform Party was a rural based political party in New Zealand. It was the successor to the Country Party that contested the 1969 election.

History

The party was launched as a revival of the decades earlier Country Party by the New Zealand Free Enterprise Movement in 1968 feeling that voters needed a genuine free enterprise choice in elections as, in their view, New Zealand was caught between monopoly business interests and overly empowered trade unions. ^[1] It changed its name to Liberal Reform in 1970. ^[2] The party criticised Robert Muldoon as a "socialist dictator" ^[3] and campaigned for the abolition of taxation. ^[4]

The Liberal Reform Party main goals were individual freedom, self reliance and maximised free enterprise. In addition it had other policy platforms it campaigned on: ^{[1] [5]}

1. To create a written constitution
2. Reducing government spending to control inflation
3. To hold a referendum on the issue of compulsory unionism
4. Establishing a petition system to allow electors to challenge legislation between elections
5. The abolition of payroll tax, death duties and gift duties
6. Incentivising students to attend technical institutes rather than universities

The party supported sporting links with apartheid South Africa. ^{[6] [7]}

The party planned to run 40 candidates at the 1972 election, ^[8] but stood only 16. ^[9] It performed poorly, winning only 0.29% of the vote with all candidates losing their deposits. ^[10] It did not stand at the 1975 election election. ^[11]

References

1. "Liberal Reform Party". The New Zealand Herald . 18 November 1972. p. 14.
2. "Party Changes Name". The Press. 16 June 1970. p. 9. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
3. "Mr Muldoon As A 'Socialist Dictator'". The Press. 9 September 1970. p. 10. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
4. "Party Plans Tax Changes". The Press. 9 September 1970. p. 12. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
5. "Mr Emeny attacks". The Press. 3 November 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
6. "Support for tour". The Press. 4 May 1972. p. 9. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
7. "Liberal Party tour opinion". 10 April 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
8. "ELECTION POLICIES". The Press. 1 March 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
9. "Election candidates total 450; 87 seats". The Press. 3 November 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.
10. "272 Lost Deposits". Otago Daily Times . 27 November 1972. p. 1.
11. "PARTY NOT STANDING". The Press. 19 June 1975. p. 18. Retrieved 21 September 2024– via Papers Past.