Budget leak not disclosed

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 3

Budget leak not disclosed

PA Wellington A special Parliamentary committee set up to investigate allegations of a Budget leak to the Wellington newspaper, the “Domi-[ nion,” yesterday reported: that the paper’s political: correspondents, who had: written the story, had declined to disclose the I sources of their information, and that the committee: recommended that no fur-: ther action be taken. The Minister of Justice; (Mr Thomson) who chaired the committee, said, ini presenting the report, that it was a matter for regret that j the journalists’ refusal toi disclose their sources left suspicion on a wide group! of persons. Mr Thomson said the journalists, Richard Long' and Richard Neville, had based their refusal to di-, vulge their sources on a; principle of journalistic j ethics. He said their refusal to assist in the investigation had not only left a slur on agreat number of loyal public servants, members of the executive, and officers of Parliament, but “undermines completely their (the jour-: nalists) credibility.”

The front page story in the “Dominion,” which appeared on the day of the Budget, correctly predicted a number of Budget measures and quoted "political [ sources.” saying that the' Government would take ur-. gency to put through a Customs Amendment Bill pro-i viding for increased taxes on! alcohol and tobacco. Mr Thomson said Mr Neville had told the committee the story was “not an inspired guess” but had refused to reveal the “political sources.” The committee had been told that the words “political sources” were used in the widest sense to include people in the political, Parliamentary, and Government! spheres, including Government departments, Mr Thomson said. The two journalists had, been asked if the information had come from a Cabinet Minister, a member of Parliament, or from another source, but had declined to classify the source. Dr A. M. Finlay said Mr J. L. Hunt had moved that the committee hearings be open to the press but this had been rejected by the Government members on the committee.