in july 1978 the tensions within the party came to the forefront once more. the schism was triggered over a political donation of $200,000 from mining entrepreneur lang hancock through the party president from which offers of campaign assistance were made to parliamentary officeholders to vote to oust old. by august the party had completely fractured when hendy cowan, the vice president of the party and an mla, and jim fletcher, the general president, walked out of a strategy planning meeting. the allegation of the campaign offer had been made against fletcher. court's strong domination of conservative politics had resulted in the national country party having only minor influence and the split galvanised demands for greater independence.