“Inaccuracies In Publicity”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31190, 14 October 1966, Page 3

“Inaccuracies In Publicity”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 13. Claims of inaccuracies in campaign publicity for the LJnder-Secretary of Finance (Mr Muldoon) were made in Parliament today.

I “Was it correct to say that a university at Hue. South Vietnam, was being built with New Zealand aid as was claimed by Mr Muldoon?” Mr N. V. Douglas (Opp., Auckland Central) asked the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake). “If so, how much has New Zealand actually contributed and, if not, what steps does he propose, to correct the wrong impression created by such claims?” Mr Holyoake said New Zealand had given enough microscopes, sterilisers and surgical and other instruments to train 50 medical students each year. The list of instruments had been checked by the Otago medical school. The value of this equipment was £7336.

I Because of unsettled conditions, not all the equipment had been delivered. It was being held in Saigon, and would be delivered as soon as circumstances permitted. Mr Douglas said Mr Holyoake had failed to answer the question, and he repeated it. Mr Muldoon said a question “of this nature must quote the facts accurately.” He claimed the original information had been distorted. Mr Douglas said the question arose out of an advertisement inserted by Mr Muldoon. It included a picture of Mr Muldoon standing by the site of a university being built with New Zealand aid.

“This, to my way of thinking, was incorrect and wrong information," said Mr Douglas. He again repeated his original question and said: “I knew about the equipment.”

Mr Holyoake said the Hue project was being built with New Zealand aid —such as other universities had been — to the extent of £7336 for aid.