The "ac" code is for "adequacy-confidence"--a
data
quality measure ranging from 0 (low) to 9
(high)
Institutionalization
Variables, 1.01-1.06
1.01 year of origin and 1.02 name
changes
1935, AC9
0, AC9
There are three relevant events
in the formation of the New Zealand National Party. One is the
1931 coalition between the United and Reform Parties, the second
is the 1935 coalition in which the two parties that had maintained
separate organizations adopted the name "National Political
Federation" to contest an election, and the last occurred in 1936,
when the National Party name was adopted with its formal
organization. Utilizing the definition of "year in which the
activists organized for the purpose of pursuing their goal," the
year of 1935 seemed most precise. Citations exist for most years,
and there is no indication of any name changes.
1.03 organizational discontinuity
0, AC5
After a thorough search of all
relevant codes, it became apparent that the National Party
experienced no organizational discontinuity of any significance
between 1941 and 1962.
1.04 leadership
competition
11, AC8
The leader of the parliamentary
party is regarded as the effective leader of the party, although
there is also a party president. During our time period, Holland
was party leader (and prime minister) until 1957, when Holyoake
took over as party leader (and leader of the opposition) upon
Labour's victory in the election. McKenzie was president of the
party throughout.
1.05 legislative
instability
Instability is .06,
AC8
The National Party's legislative
representation produces considerable stability, ranging between 49
per cent in 1958 and 1959 and 62 percent in 1952 and
1953.
1.06 electoral
instability
Instability is .07, AC9
Legislative elections were held in 1949, 1951, 1954, 1957, and
1960. The National Party's proportion of votes won ranged between
44 per cent in 1957 and 1960 and 54 per cent in 1951.
Governmental Status Variables,
2.01-2.07
2.01 government
discrimination
3 for 1950-56, AC6
3 for 1957-62, AC6
Electoral discrimination against
minor parties is well documented with no disagreements. One source
for each time period indicates that access to the mass media may
be freer for the National Party. That point, however, is not well
documented.
2.02 governmental
leadership
7 out of 7 for 1950-56,
AC9
3 out of 6 for 1957-62,
AC9
Except for the three years
between 1957 and 1960, the National Party was in power from 1949
to 1963. With the exception of the election in 1951, which
occurred two years after the previous one, elections were held
regularly every three years during our time period. There was good
documentation and no discrepancies in our data
collection.
2.03 cabinet
participation
7 out of 7 for 1950-56,
AC9
3 out of 6 for 1957-62,
AC9
No source explicitly mentioned
possible coalitions or single individuals from another party
serving in cabinet, and our consultant reports that none occurred
during our time period. Cabinets were chosen by the prime
minister, and the years of cabinet participation were equal to the
number of years the party held the government.
2.04 national
participation
6 for 1950-56, AC8
6 for 1957-62, AC8
There is no discrepancy between
the two coders with respect to the variable code. The National
Party does have a national orientation in all areas of the
country.
2.05 legislative strength
Strength is .59 for 1950-56, AC7
and .53 for 1957-62, AC9
The National Party's legislative
representation produces considerable stability, ranging between 49
per cent in 1958 and 1959 and 62 percent in 1952 and
1953.
2.06 electoral strength
Strength is .49 for 1950-56, AC9
and .45 for 1957-62, AC9
Legislative elections were held
in 1949, 1951, 1954, 1957, and 1960. The National Party's
proportion of votes won ranged between 44 per cent in 1957 and
1960 and 54 per cent in 1951.
2.07 outside origin
4, AC8
The party was founded by some parliamentarians and former
government officials of two rather major parties, the United and
the Reform Parties. These two parties merged their organizations.
This is documented by two sources.
Issue Orientation Variables, 5.01-5.15
5.01 ownership of means of
production
-2, AC8
Although the National Party
policy advocated giving up most of the government means of
production, it only sold two companies.
5.02 government role in economic
planning
-1, AC8
The National Party policy has
advocated reduction of controls in economic planning. However, it
has taken no steps to eliminate them. Generally, the party has
accepted controls introduced by Labour.
5.03 redistribution of wealth
-2, AC3
The National Party is
traditionally conservative in matters regarding the distribution
of wealth, for example, it abolished a 1/3 surtax on unearned
income.
5.04 social welfare
-1, AC4
The National Party accepted the
social security system as it existed and did not propose new
benefits. However, it has not sought to repeal any of the existing
social legislation.
5.05 secularization of society
-1, AC5
The National Party is benevolent
toward religion. Polls in New Zealand have shown a direct
relationship between religious affiliation and voting behavior.
Some members of the National Party propose to give state aid to
parochial schools. The National Party also promised to exempt
donations to schools from taxes.
5.06 support of the
military
1, AC5
There is very little mentioned
about the armed forces in the literature. However, it was stated
that the National Party is more concerned with national defense
than is the Labour Party. There is much stress on the importance
of New Zealand's commitment to the united nations, especially by
the Labour Party which, like the Australian Labor Party, is
probably more internationalist in outlook than its conservative
counterpart or rival.
5.07 alignment with east-west
blocs
-5, AC3
Politically, New Zealand and the
National Party agree with the west and have accepted aid from the
united states. The national government executed the Anzus Defense
Agreement of 1951.
5.08 anti-colonialism
1, AC6
The National Party has not
advocated any disruption of relations with great britain, but it
has found a market in Japan as well as in England. It always
supports England, in any matter.
5.09 supranational integration
0, AC3
The National Party believes in a
strong United Nations obligation. It is stated that one of the
objects of the party is "loyalty to and promotion of the
commonwealth.". However, there was very little information in the
literature on the party's attitude toward supranational
integration in the pacific area. It supported the Colombo Plan,
but that was essentially a technical assistance
program.
5.10 national
integration
1, AC5
The National Party is essentially
nationalistic but accepts the distinctiveness of the maori
subculture. The party allowed maori control of maori schools, and
guaranteed maori representation in parliament.
5.11 electoral
participation
5, AC9
Universal manhood suffrage was
introduced in 1879, and women were enfranchised in 1893. The
National Party has made no attempt to change this. The maoris were
granted universal manhood suffrage even earlier, in
1867.
5.12 protection of civil
rights
2, AC5
The maoris, who constitute
between 5 and 10 percent of the New Zealand population, are the
most likely targets of discrimination and thus most in need of
government protection of civil rights. The National Party has
lagged behind the Labour Party in formulating policies to combat
discrimination, as in the area of housing. Moreover, the National
Party supports restrictions on immigration of asians.
5.13 interference with civil
liberties
-1 for 1950-56, AC6
-3 for 1956-62, AC3
The National Party declared an
emergency in a 1951 dock strike, muzzled newspapers, and did not
permit the labor leader to use facilities for speaking. Very
little else could be found on this variable. There was virtually
no mention made of control of the press. However, in 1960 the
National Party did propose to make the television industry
independent.
5.14 / 5.15 US--Soviet experts
left-right ratings
U.S. says, 1, conservative.
Soviets say, 1, union of conservative, liberal, anti-labor
elements. Serves interests of major bourgeoisie and wealthy
farmers. Capitalist, anti-socialist, anti-communist.
Goal Orientation Variables, 6.01-6.55
6.00 open competition in
the electoral process
4, AC9
All information, and this
variable is well documented, indicates that the National Party
relies exclusively on open competition in the electoral process.
There was no implication of the contrary.
6.10 restricting party
competition
0, AC8
Nothing in the literature
indicated that the National Party tried in any way to restrict
party competition.
6.20 subverting the political
system
0, AC8
There is no evidence that the
National Party ever subverted the political process during our
time period.
6.30 propagandizing ideas and
program
6.31 1, AC5 the party operates
some mass communications. The National Party attempts to operate a
weekly paper, but the circulation is small. The government in
power allocates radio time for election broadcasts.
6.32 0, AC9 there was no mention
of any type of party schools.
6.33 2, AC8 one of the main
functions of the National Party is the passing of resolutions and
platforms. Policy formulation occurs continuously. The party
leader announces the "fighting policy" of the party for
elections.
6.34 2, AC9 the National Party is
quite active in publishing position papers, and most campaign
activities rely heavily on them. The official organ of the party
is "Freedom."
6.50 providing for welfare of
party members
6.51, 6.52, and 6.54 0, AC5 there
was no mention of the National Party providing these social
welfare services.
6.53 2, AC8 the literature states
that one of the main tasks of the party president is to assist
citizens in favors and advices. This appears to be a common
practice.
6.55 1, AC5 the National Party has very active junior and womens
organizations that provide a wide scope of social activities for
its members. The party has also built a new headquarters building
resembling a club, that has facilities for social
activities.
Autonomy Variables, 7.01-7.05
7.01 sources of
funds
4 (sectors 02, 04),
AC7
About half of the party's support
comes from farmers and business and commercial
interests.
7.02 source of
members
5, AC8
Membership in the National Party
is entirely direct. There are no provisions for membership through
affiliated organizations.
7.03 sources of
leaders
3 (sector 04), AC5
Between one third and two thirds
of the the leaders come from business and commercial
interests.
7.04 relations with domestic
parties
7, AC6
During our time period, the
National Party was the dominant party in a two party system and
did not have to negotiate with the opposition labor
party.
7.05 relations with foreign
organizations
5, AC6
No mention is made of the National Party's membership in any
international organization. It definitely did not belong to the
liberal international, the most likely one.
Organizational Complexity Variables,
8.01-8.07
8.01 structural
articulation
10, AC7
There are four national organs
which are powerful--the Annual Conference, the Caucus, the
Dominion Council, and the Dominion Executive Council. The
functions are overlapping.
8.02 intensiveness of
organization
4, AC8
The smallest unit is the branch,
which is also the most basic unit.
8.03 extensiveness of
organization
5, AC8
The geographical coverage is far
from complete. Membership is only forty percent of the voting
strength of the party. There are over 1300 widely scattered
branches, many of which are virtually inactive.
8.04 frequency of local
meetings
3, AC8
The branches meet only once a
year. However, the branch executive meets every three
months.
8.05 frequency of national
meetings
2, AC7
The dominion conference, which
meets annually, was the only organization documented in the
literature.
8.06 maintaining
records
8, AC7
The National Party publishes
propoganda, and maintains membership lists and a party
archive.
8.07 pervasiveness of
organization
11, AC7
There is some party penetration by ancillary organizations, for
example the farmers and business groups. However, it is not strong
enough to be very meaningful.
Organizational Power Variables, 9.01-9.08
9.01 nationalization of
structure
4, AC5
There is not a single peaked
hierarchy of the national organs, for the parliamentary
organization effectively challenges the leadership of the national
executive.
9.02 selecting the national
leader
4, AC8
The party president is selected
by the party organization outside parliament, but the
parliamentary party leader is the effective leader and he is
selected by the parliamentary delegation.
9.03 selecting parliamentary
candidates
4, AC7
Selections are made by a
selections committee composed of delegates elected by branch
general meetings.
9.04 allocating funds
2, AC5
All funds, whether collected
locally (as most are) or by a higher level, are sent to dominion
headquarters and are then distributed.
9.05 formulating
policy
6, AC8
The parliamentary party
organization remains in control of policy. Also the party
leadership almost always dominates policy
determination.
9.06 controlling communications
AC2
All the major daily newspapers in
New Zealand are editorially in favor of the National Party, but
there is no evidence of organizational direction and control of
newspaper content.
9.07 administering
discipline
3, AC5
The national parliamentary party
organization controls discipline through parliamentary pressure
for conformity. Discipline is effective because of the power of
the top level administrators.
9.08 leadership
concentration
6, AC7
The party leader is regarded as the authoritative spokesman of the
party.
Coherence Variables, 10.01-10.06
10.01 legislative cohesion
.95, AC5
The party is very highly
disciplined and cohesive, but it does allow some free votes to its
members.
10.02 ideological
factionalism
3, AC6
At National Party conferences the
right wing has stigmatized the center, whose proposals were seen
as a sacrifice of principle.
10.03 issue
factionalism
1, AC5
There is a remarkable lack of any
relevant information. However, it was observed that some issue
factionalism has occurred, but it is rather
insignificant.
10.04 leadership factionalism
0, AC8
Since 1940 the National Party has
had few leadership problems. The leader is elected by
caucus.
10.05 strategic or tactical
factionalism
AC1
No information.
10.06 party purges
0, AC5
There were no party purges.
Involvement Variables, 11.01-11.06
11.01 membership
requirements
3, AC7
There is a regular annual
membership fee, and presumably membership
registration.
11.02 membership
participation
1, AC4
There are really few active
members of the party. One source mentions that some 3000 members
existed at the 1960 election, however. In a 1962 by- election, the
National Party mainly depended on the efforts of its local
branch.
11.03 material incentives
0, AC5
The active members desire jobs in
the parliament. However, reward is in the form of influence over
party policy.
11.04 purposive
incentives
1, AC5
Some of the militants do work
because they want to see the party's philosophy enacted,
especially anti-socialism. However, much of it is merely for
social reasons.
11.05 doctrinism
0, AC5
There is a reference to a party
constitution. However, none of the other literature indicates its
existence, and there are no references to party
doctrine.
11.06 personalism
0, AC5
Personalism does not seem to motivate any party
militants.