The week in the House Riposte in defence of press and doctors

Press, 1 July 1978, Page 2

The week in the House Riposte in defence of press and doctors

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

The week just past was a spectacular one in many!: ways, in that it saw the end of the Budget debate, the I virtual disposal of the Con-1 traception, Sterilisation and| Abortion Amendment Bill, I and the launching of half a* dozen Budget measures. But it will be remembered for the attack by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) on doctors and journalists — and even more so for the reaction this provoked from :Mr M. J. Minogue ’ (Nat., ; Hamilton West). After keeping a very low* profile on the abortion issue for some months, Mr Muldoon lashed out on Tuesday night with the assertion that th.e Contraception, Sterlisation and Abortion Act was a workable piece of legislation in its original form, and that the blame for difficulties met in its implementation rested with doctors and journalists for their attitude.

He said that a “black* stain” lay on them. | When the debate resumed* lon Wednesday night, Mr I Minogue said that those; (blaming doctors and the I I media nad no comprehension I of what they had helped to make the law. Referring to “these statements,” and giving the impression that he was talking of the utterances of several members, Mr Minogue continued: “I suggest they are libellous statements. It is about (time we began to sheet home the responsibility to those where it belongs — to those who have been indifferent to the legislation passed in this house.” Claiming that there had been “scurrilous, libellous and side-stepping attacks” made on doctors and the news media, Mr Minogue continued: “The people who made, these attacks should look at their own responsibility. I deplore their attacks

and insist that they cease.” He said that those who blamed others were talking tripe. Outside the House, Mr Minogue confirmed that he was referring to Mr Muldoon and others, including the Minister of Fisheries (Mr Bolger) and the Labour member for Dunedin Central (Mr B. P. MacDonell). Mr Minogue, formerly Mayor of Hamilton, has voiced his differences with Mr Muldoon so often that the Prime Minister once named him as “my favourite candidate to be Opposition leader.” He has criticised Government policies on reading, local government finance, and freedom of information, and on the operation of the Security Intelligence Service.

The abortion debate saw most of the amendments lost, so that it seems the new act will be only margin? ally better than the old one.