“Regrettable Attack”

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

“Regrettable Attack”

The general secretary of the Public Service Association (Mr D. P. Long) tonight said that Mr Holyoake’s statement could only be regarded as a personal attack on Mr Batt. This was most regrettable. Mr Holyoake should direct any criticism that might be warranted against the association, and not at Mr Batt personally. The statement to which the Prime Minister took exception was unanimously approved by the association’s executive committee, as were the other actions taken by the association’s executive officers. The association’s annual conference would meet in Wellington next week, and he was confident, said Mr Long, that it would just as overwhelmingly support the steps that had been taken. “The association expects its president and executive offi-

cers to watch the interest of its members. Attacks of this nature must increase the appreciation of their services.” Mr Long said the Prime Minister's statement today was the third different explanation the association had been given on the matter. . . . Mr Long said Mr Shand had told the association that he accepted responsibility for introducing the law draftsman, and that this had been done so that the law draftsman could advise the Royal Commission how any of its proposals could be implemented, and also so that the law draftsman could act as independent advisers, apart from the heads of the various services.

Mr Long said the Prime Minister later gave another explanation, not necessarily incompatible with Mr Shand’s. Today the Prime Minister had given a third explanation. . . .