Mrs Cairns ill after abuse

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 15

Mrs Cairns ill after abuse

(New Zealand Press Association—Copyright)

CANBERRA, February 21.

Mrs Gwen Cairns, wife of the Australian Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Jim Cairns), who has been subjected to a barrage of nuisance telephone calls over the Junie Morosi affair, is reported to be too ill to accompany her husband to the Middle East.

Mrs Cairns, who is 63, is recovering from a serious throat operation last year. Dr Cairns flew back to Melbourne to be with her after he had heard .of the harrassment.

He returned to Canberra this morning for a Cabinet meeting, which he atter. led after picking up Miss Morosi, his private secretary, from her Canberra hotel. The Morosi affair was not raised in the Cabinet meeting.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) told Dr Cairns that reports that Labour backbenchers had asked him to intervene in the matter were incorrect.

Mr Whitlam is understood to have told his deputy that he did not know where the reports had come from, but that they were “utter bull.”

In Parliament late last night, Mr William Wentworth (Lib., N.S.W.) twice

attempted to table more papers on the case. He said outside the House that he had been told he would be refused leave by Dr Cairns if he tried to table any further satutory declarations relating to the affair.

Mr Wentworth brought before Parliament yesterday allegations about Miss Morosi’s former business dealing, and said she was not fit to hold the position of Dr Cairns's private secretary.

Last night Mr Don Cameron (Lib., Queensland) called for action by Mr Whitlam. “We have the spectacle of almost half the Treasurer’s staff resigning or being dismissed,” he said. It was time the Prime Minister showed leadership and pulled his deputy firmly into line. Mr Whitlam must tell Dr Cairns how he should run the second most important pffice in the country, he said. The former Prime Minister, Mr William McMahon, said today that the allegations against Miss Morosi should not have been raised in Parliament by Mr Wentworth. He said they should have been presented to the I police. Mr McMahon said the people concerned had no [opportunity to defend them- ; selves.