Joint statements

Press, 23 February 1980, Page 14

Joint statements

Sir, — Hundreds of people signed a petition asking for the removal of a fence erected to halt foot traffic over railway lines in Vincent Place, Opawa. The member of Parliament for the electorate cannot be contacted as she is overseas on holiday, according to her own office. Consequently, I was mystified to read (“The Press,” February 18) under the heading “MPs slate • decision,” a statement purportedly signed by Ann Hercus and other members of Parliament. How did anyone get her to sign a statement if she is not in the country? Or is she here but doing things of which her office is unaware? — Yours, etc., K. A. HOGAN. February 18, 1980. [Mr M. A. Connelly, member of Parliament for Yaldhurst, replies: “Because of the raw deal the South Island is getting, local Labour members of Parliament meet from time to time to discuss matters of Canterbury and South Island interest. In the course of these meetings we find the views of individual members. Therefore, if we have a joint statement to make on behalf of local members, and the views of an absent member are well known, we will include the member’s name in support of the statement. If we thought the absent member was likely to have a different. view we would not include the name. We have discussed the subject of hospital services a number of times and we know Mrs Hercus’s views, which are also recorded in Hansard on the subject.”]