Prime Minister Rebukes Mr Batt For Statement

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29896, 9 August 1962, Page 14

Prime Minister Rebukes Mr Batt For Statement

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 8. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today described as “irresponsible” a statement made this week by the president of the Public Service Association (Mr E. J. Batt), who claimed that there was evidence of collaboration between the Government and the State Services Commission before the commission presented its report.

“This amounts to an allegation of a serious breach of the Royal Commission issued by the GovernorGeneral, which strictly directs the commissioners not to publish or disclose the contents of their report until it is completed,” said Mr Holyoake. “This does not, of course, apply to the staff of the commission in the course of their confidential duties. “I am advised that this allegation of collaboration in breach of the terms of the Royal Commission is defamatory of the members of the commission.

“Mr Batt’s behaviour is particularly reprehensible because he had already made similar allegations to the Minister of Labour, Mr Shand,” Mr Holyoake said. “When Mr Shand assured him that no such collaboration had occurred, he did not accept the assurance but asked to see me with a deputation.

“Mr Batt . repeated the allegations, and I was able

to tell the deputation in detail what had actually taken place, and to assure them that there was no basis for the allegations. I would have expected the matter to end there. “For reasons best known to himself, Mr Batt has chosen to ignore the facts and to persist in his unsubstantiated charges by making a public statement. Prime Minister’s Explanation “The circumstances are these: Mr Batt had apparently been informed that one of the law draftsmen had been seen to enter the office of the Royal Commission on a number of occasions and Mr Batt suggested that the officer concerned was in the office of the Royal Commission for the purpose of preparing • legislation for subsequent enactment by the Government. “In fact, as both Mr Shand and I explained to Mr Batt, the chairman of the Royal Commission had asked for the release of a law draftsman for the purpose of assisting the commission as a member of its staff during the last week or so of the preparation of their report. “The chairman suggested that if the Government were :o release the officer, to whom the task would subsequently be assigned of drafting any legislation which the Government might decide to enact as a result of the Royal Commission’s findings, his time would be well spent, inasmuch as he would be more familiar with those aspects of the commission's report which might give rise to legislation. “The Attorney - General acceded to the request and a senior member of the law

drafting staff, was detailed to attend the commission,” Mr Holyoake said. “His relationship to the commission was made clear to him by the chairman. He told the officer (1) That he should consider himself a member of the staff just as much as the secretary and other advisers. (2) That, like those other members of the staff, he must entirely refrain from any disclosure to any persons including ministers of the Crown of any information which came into his possession while with the commission, and (31 That no document relating to the report was to be removed from the commission’s office. “The law draftsman proceeded with his assignment on that basis. “Coinmission Impugned" “Mr Batt’s further allegations that the law draftsman concerned was occupied in drafting legislation is also incorrect. “I have received the law draftsman’s assurance on this point. “I am seriously concerned that a man holding Mr Batt’s office should be so irresponible as to publish remarks of this nature, particularly when these remarks impugn a Judge of the Supreme Court and the four highly respected citizens who with him constituted the commission. “I hope that, on reflection. Mr Batt will see fit to withdraw and apologise, or that if he does not do so of his own volition, the service which he represents will insist that their president behaves in a manner consistent with his position as head of their association,” said Mr Holyoake.