'Gratuitous insult’

Press, 19 June 1976, Page 4

'Gratuitous insult’

Wellington

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) yesterday termed a conditional offer by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to let him have a copy of the report on the Security Intelligence Service a “gratuitous personal insult.” Mr Rowling said he rejected Mr Muldoon’s offer.

”1 regard the offer as a deliberate gratuitous personal insult.” he said. “There is no way I am going to sign a declaration that 1 will not show the report to anyone else.

"I am. however, quite happy to accept a copy of the report on the basis that it is for my eyes only. I would have accepted a verbal assurance from him if the positions had been reversed. “1 also regard as an insult the method of communication used bv the Prime Minister.” Mr Rowling said. “He went on air announcing the letter and the terms of his offer before 1 had even seen the document. “Simple common decency suggests that I should have been acquainted with the proposition before the Prime Minister decided to broadcast on the question.’’ he said. Mr Rowling made his

statement after Mr Muldoon had taken part in an interview on a Wellington private radio station. After hearing of Mr Rowling’s criticism this afternoon, Mr Muldoon issued a 13-word press statement, saying: “I wrote him a letter. I would normally expect a letter in reply.” The Prime Minister’s press secretary (Mr G. W. Symmans) said later that Mr Muldoon had offered to make available to Mr Rowling a copy of the report of the Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles) on the 5.1.5.. and the comments made by the S.I.S. on Sir Guy’s report, and had required a written assurance that Mr Rowling would not show the reports to anyone, including his colleagues and members of his own staff. It had been intended that the reports be subsequently returned to the S.I.S. for safe keeping.