P.M. hurt in tug-of-war

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34037, 29 December 1975, Page 1

P.M. hurt in tug-of-war

Z Pre».« Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) was in the wars at the week-end, and had to cancel an engagement in Auckland this afternoon. Mr Muldoon was hurt in a tug-of-war at the Hatfields Bay sports day yesterday: he was accidentally elbowed in the ribs. He said from his Hatfields Beach bach tonight that the injury had left a bruise which was a "bit painful." Instead of driving to ~nd tor a champagne barbecue at Alexandra Park. Mr Muldoon asked the Minister of Health (Mr Gill) to stand in for him.

“I am in perfectly good health." the Prime Minister said. “I have not been to the doctor, and I do not

intend taking anything for the bruise.” Mr Gill had told 3(H) people at the barbecue that Mr Muldoon was hurt in the tug-of-war when the team opposing the Prime Minister tied its end of the rope to a bulldoz.er.

“Mr Muldoon could manage to move the bulldozer only a couple of yards,” Mr Gill quipped. Mr Muldoon’s team was weighing its strength up against that of a team led by the president of the local Progressive Association.

"Of course my team won," Mr .Muldoon said with a touch of indignation at the question. “The wind was with us. and we were pulling downhill.” Mr Muldoon said he would not return to Wellington for several weeks.