P.S.A. alleges intimidation

Press, 8 November 1978, Page 6

P.S.A. alleges intimidation

Public servants have been subjected to illegal intimidation by the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker), accoiding to the Public Service Association. The association’s regional secretary (Mr J. M. McKenzie) alleged in Christchurch yesterday that Mr Walker had tried to “pressurise” public servants who opposed his views. Such pressure was contrary to Section 10 of the State Services Act, 1962. he said. Mr McKenzie asserted that a Health Department sociologist had been censured by the Deputy Director-General of Health after the sociologist had written to Mr Walker. The man had written complaining about Mr, Walker’s comments on an abortion survey made in the Papanui electorate Mr Walker had replied, sending copies of the letter to the Minister of Health (Mr Gill) and to the Health Department in Christchurch. The man was subsequently censured, and P.S.A. files indicated that the Health Department may have contemplated dismissing him, said Mr McKenzie. A second case related to the former chairman of the

i P.S.A.'s broadcasting groun. -! This man wrote to Mr 11 Walker late in 1976. object-1 ing to a reported statement 1 -I.it the Minister concerning; the Government’s proposed I;broadcasting legislation. Mr -i McKenzie said. Mr Walker's Vcomment had been that all; i "competent” broadcasters ’lsupported the legislation, and i I wanted to know whether this ; ! meant that those who did not; > were incompetent. ?, Last year, said Mr McKen;zie. Mr Walker wrote to the, 11 Minister of Broadcasting (Mr -ITempleton) saying it was not! ■his intention to reply further. I Mr Walker had said he could -I “perhaps be forgiven for ■ wondering what value a per-1 ■ son who persists with this! - type of nonsense is worth to I is broadcasting." jj Mr Walker could not be ■■ reached by "The Press” last! • evening. However, the Press Association had earlier reported, - him as saying that he would! : welcome an Ombudsman’s; r \ investigation into the allega-i -(lions. He was said to have' i“totally and absolutely” re-' - iected Mr McKenzie's asset-; , tions. "I ask why, if. Mr McKenr'zie believes what he says, he ? has not referred the matter

to the Ombudsman for a t independent investigation anti report to Parliament.'’ IMr Walker said. “I would be very happy to have that done." l he Minisier confirmed he had sent letters to the MinI isters in charge of the departments whose officers had written to him on political matters. But. Mr Walker said, it was "standard practice” for letters like these to be referred for comment. Mr McKenzie said: "The ,P.S.A’s position is that public servants should be allowed to express thetr free views without it influencing their careers, as long as ’they do not allow it to influence the way they do their . work.” 1 "Those persons were making representations on vari- ! otis social issues to their own member of Parliament. Mr McKenzie was asked if the P.S.A. was alleging that iMr Walker tried to influence the Minister of Broadcasting against the broadcasting official in his letter last year. "Why else would he send that letter to the Minister, (from his own constituent, who was asking a simple ! question?” Mr McKenzie .said.