Candidate sparked S.I.P.A. story

Press, 7 October 1977, Page 1

Candidate sparked S.I.P.A. story

By

PHILIP WORTHINGTON and STAN DARLING

The Labour tnayora! candidate, Mr H. A. Clark, admitted yesterday that he had suggested to Radio Avon that it investigate the three-year-old South Island Promotion Association funds issue. He told “The Press” that he had been approached on September 22 by two National Party members, who had told him of allegations which were the basis of radio reports on Wednesday. He had spoken to five persons during his own inquiries before suggesting that Radio Avon “might like to follow it up,” since he had neither the time nor resources to spend on such an> investigation. Among those persons were Mr G. R. Burrowes, who was chairman of the S.I.P.A.’s finance committee at the time, and Mr Angus MacKenzie, the Canterbury public relations officer and a candidate for the Yaldhurst riding of the Paparua County Council. Mr MacKenzie knew “as much as anyone” about the matter because it had been discussed at Canterbury Progress League meetings. Mr Burrowes had not shown him any files or records, Mr Clark said. In mentioning the matter to Radio Avon, he had not specifically named Mr Burrowes as a source of information, although he had hinted that reporters should talk to the man who had

audited the S.I.P.A.’s accounts. Asked why he had taken the matter to Radio Avon, Mr Clark said, “I didn’t take it to them. I was just round there and happened to mention it and suggested they follow it up.” Mr Clark said that he had not referred radio reporters to his original informants and he was still the only one who knew their identity. “I think they are members of the National Party, although I haven’t checked their membership. I know they are not members of the Labour Party.” Mr Clark said he had realised that it could be a “political bombshell” but he had not sought to establish political overtones. He had issued a statement about the issue to the “Christchurch Star” on Tuesday afternoon, 12 hours before Radio Avon had started broadcasting its story, but had embargoed it until the next day. The “Star” had sought a statement. It was headed “Mayor avoids facing up to civic responsibilities.” Mr Clark’s statement accused the Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay) of “refusing repeatedly to deal with the allegations of financial misconduct” in the S.I.P.A. “A group of concerned citizens have repeatedly approached the Mayor, in his role as Mayor and as a Justice of the Peace, to initiate a full inquiry and

to withdraw funds from the organisation.” Mr Clark said yesterday that this information may not have been correct. “I tried to see it followed up. J did not see it as specifically an election issue but I certainly felt it should have be.en dealt with.” Asked whether, since he was so concerned about it, he had followed up his approach to Radio Avon, Mr Clark said that he had not. Apart from Mr Burrowes, he had not discussed the matter with any past or present member of the S.I.P.A. Mr Clark was asked whether he thought that people would see the controversy as a case of his providing bullets for someone else to fire so that he could make political capital. “That is a construction that could be put on it,” he said. He did not consider that he had made an error of judgment. “No, I don't think it will rebound. I don’t think it is likely to be adverse,” he said. Mr Clark said that there were “still implications and indications that the whole story hasn’t been heard, or that the interpretation really hasn’t been understood, or what have you.” When he had first told the story to Radio Avon, it had seemed to be new information to the station.