Mr Kirk Alleges Leak To Paper

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 3

Mr Kirk Alleges Leak To Paper

fflew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 9.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) today charged the Government with playing politics with the rail strike.

He said this afternoon’s move by the Government to debate the issue was made for this purpose. Mr Kirk, speaking in Parliament during the rail strike debate, said the political nature of the move was demonstrated by the report published in the “Evening Post” this afternoon.

That, he said, eould marginally be a breach of privilege. Mr Kirk quoted from the report which said the Government had sought the backing of the House this afternoon, standing orders had been suspended at 2.30, and the move was still being debated late in the afternoon. Mr Kirk said he had been told the report was carried in the edition which began to run at 2.25 p.m., five minutes before today’s sitting of Parliament began. “The Prime Minister shows quite clearly that as far as he is concerned, he merely wants to play politics,” said Mr Kirk. He suggested that Mr Holyoake “ran to the newspapers.” “I have not spoken to any newspaper person, I have not supplied any information to any newspaper person,” Mr Holyoake said on a point of order.

He said that he, the Deputy Prime Minister, his private secretary and a typist had known of the motion which came before the House after today’s sitting began.

Mr Kirk said he accepted this, but someone must have supplied the information to the press. Newspaper Telephoned The Prime Minister later asked leave to make a personal statement

He said that his inquiries to the “Evening Post” had shown that a sub-editor had been responsible for the report In the paper. The subeditor was listening to the radio when Parliament sat and heard that the Prime Minister was seeking leave of Hie House to have standing orders suspended.

Mr Holyoake said urgent news could be inserted in a paper in a very short time. Mr Kirk asked if Mr Holyoake would still investigate the matter.

Mr Holyoake held up a newspaper. “I cannot find the statement anywhere in the first edition. If any member can do so, I will carry out most rigorous inquiries.” In reply to Labour members’ interjections, Mr Holyoake said: “I have been subjected to a pretty serious charge. Somebody gave the Leader of the Opposition the wrong information.”

The editor of the “Evening Post,” Mr K. M. Poulton, said tonight that the report was written after Mr Holyoake had begun speaking. The paper had no prior knowledge of the Government’s move.