Apology asked for

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 11

Apology asked for

PA Wellington The Government member of Parliament for Eden (Mr A. G. Malcolm), has been asked to apologise for remarks in Parliament on Wednesday that the "New Zealand Herald” newspaper had censored news. Mr J. L. Hunt (Lab., New Lynn) in a notice of motion, said that Mr Malcolm should not use his parliamentary privilege "as a shield behind which to attack outside organisations,” and that he should apologise or take his claims to the Press Council. Mr Hunt’s call followed a notice of motion by Mr Malcolm on Wednesday, in which he repeated claims by

an Auckland weekly newspaper, the “Franklin Times,” of intimidation and standover tactics by the Northern Journalists’ Union and censorship of news by the “New Zealand Herald.” Mr Hunt said the “Herald” had denied there had been any censorship of news, and Mr Malcolm should therefore apologise or take his claims to the Press Council. However, Mr Malcolm told the House, on a point of order, that he had not personally made any accusations and had only repeated claims by the “Franklin Times.” He said he believed the "Times” intended taking its claims to the Press Council.