Auckland's Mayor Denies Criticising National Party

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 17

Auckland's Mayor Denies Criticising National Party

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. June 9. Home after a whirlwind tour of Korth America, the Mayor of lackland (Mr D M. Robinson) today angrily denied criticising National Party while over*e«itements attributed to him in tht “Winnipeg Free Press” were titled and absolutely untrue, he caid. flj e Winnipeg article made the «ayor so mad he had threatened ' punch the columnist response “on the snoot.” “He was a big fellow.” said Mr “but I’d have had a go ,t him. Fancy writing that rubbish* The Mayor was reported to ugve called the National Party and to have criticised Sorth American Mayors. ‘ The Mayoress, when she met Hr Robinson at Whenuapai airport, handed him a letter from the Auckland division of the National Party, which demanded an apology"Dirty Lie”

Mr Robinson scanned the letter ipd shook his head. “It was a dirty lie,” he said. These people could have at least waited to see if I was truthfully reported before jumping in and demanding an apology. I made no criticism of either party. Certainly not I’m not going to get into politics, and in any case, I don’t believe the National Party is dishonest.’’ The Mayor said the Winnipeg interview was a press conference while he was waiting to attend the annual dinner of the Engineering Institute of Canada. The Canadian reporters, he said, asked about the parties represented on the Auckland City Council, and he explained there was the Labour Party, the United Independents, and the Citizens and Ratepayers. The latter group, he told them, numbered among its ranks National Party supporters. “This was the only reference 1 made to the National Party and the Labour Party,” ’ said Mr Robinson.

When he had been asked to

°S J* orth American Jj? y ° rs ’ Roblns °n said he debeei^llH be ? U would have been nide to discuss his hosts, th® e r» had t „ ho ' vever , spoken “off L told r ePOrtS” ttat most of the Mayors were first-class, hard-working men. -2. he had added seraned to be more concerned J? aintainin g themselves in office than m getting things done. , ® x P®cted that the reporters would respect my confidence, as Auckland reporters do,” said Mr Robinson.

I went overseas representing Auckland,” said Mr Robinson. “I set myself out to sell New Zealand to the people of North America and to establish good public relations for our city. I think I succeeded.”