The Ballot is taken

At ten minutes to midnight, the first ballot was taken: 12 for and 30 against. With doubts still in peoples' minds, Brian was called back in to give him a chance of improving his performance. He didn't. Brian was still too ready to admit to a lack of experience and he showed again his lack of detailed knowledge of Education and Welfare policy.

After Brian left the room, it was Grant Liddell's turn to urge us not to vote for Brian. He too claimed that Brian did little in the Education Fightback Campaign in Otago. Liddell claimed that much of the organisation was his own doing. Paul Gourlie took strong exception to these statements, he said they were not Otago's opinion and came very close to calling Liddell a liar.

Understandably, no-one's opinion was greatly clarified after this display and, after caucusing, the second ballot produced exactly the same results as the first. Knowing that the voting would not change, it was decided to terminate the elections and re-open nominations. Brian O'Brien had lost, NZUSA was without an E&WVP for 1980.