TRUDEAU ACCUSED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32525, 8 February 1971, Page 4

TRUDEAU ACCUSED

Protesters’ complaint

(N.Z.P.A.-Keuter—Copyright) OTTAWA, Feb. 3. A union official alleges that the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Trudeau) thumbed his nose and shouted an obscenity at a group of protesters on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, yesterday. Frank di Terlizzi, a spokesman for about 400 track drivers who lost their Montreal mail delivery jobs because of Government action last year, said that Mr Trudeau made the gesture and comment as his limousine drove on to the hill. The demonstrators were reported to be jeering at and booing the Prime Minister. Mr Trudeau later refused to comment on the incident. When a reporter asked if he had slowed down his limousine as he drove past the group, Mr Trudeau replied: “I did not slow down because I was not driving.” Journalists asked several times whether he had said anything “offensive" to the drivers. “Go ask them,” Mr Trudeau replied. Mr di Terlizzi said that the Prime Minister had slowed his limousine as it passed the protesters, thumbed his nose at them and made an obscene suggestion to the men, who have been parading at least once a week since they lost their jobs a year ago.