M.P.s intercede to help resolve dispute

Press, 3 July 1978, Page 7

M.P.s intercede to help resolve dispute

Wellington The Opposition member of Parliament for Manukau (Mr R. O. Douglas) and the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Templeton) have settled their differences without the need for the Speaker (Mr J. R. Harrison) to rule about an alleged breach of privilege. Mr Templeton had sought an apology from Mr Douglas for a charge made in a press statement last Friday that he had shown “blatant dishonesty” answering questions in Parliament about the present taxation system and tax changes announced in the Budget. Mr Douglas, in a personal statement to the House on Wednesday, refused Mri Templeton’s request. Later! •Mr Templeton strode across to Mr Douglas’s bench andj wagged a finger at him. j Soon after this, the senior: Government Whip (Mr W. I F. Birch) asked Mr Harrison to rule whether Mr Douglas’s use of the words “blatant dishonesty” in the press statement constituted a! breach of privilege. The Speaker gave Mr! Templeton and Mr Douglas: a 24-hour “breathing spell”! to see whether they could! settle their differences and! after a request by senior! members he extended thatj another 24 hours until:

yesterday. In a statement to the

House yesterday. Mr Douglas said he had held an “amicable” discussion with Mr Templeton. “Clearly, my statement of June 23 has been interpreted by the Minister as accusing him personally of ‘blatant dishonesty’.

“This was never intended, and I regret the fact that it was possible for the Minister to put such an interpretation on my statement, and to the extent that this interpretation is possible, I withdraw,” said Mr Douglas.

Parliament demanded that there would always be vigorous debate on matters of public interest inside and outside the House, he said. “Both the Minister and I acknowledge that this should be so, and we will, no doubt, continue to disagree from time to time.

“Neither now, nor in the future,, will this be on a personal basis,” said Mr Douglas.

Mr Templeton also made a brief comment.

“I am grateful for. his courtesy in withdrawing his allegation of dishonesty against me.” he said. Mr Harrison then thanked the senior members of both sides of the House who had acted as mediators in the dispute and Mr Birch then formally withdrew his request to the Speaker to rule on the question of a breach of privilege.