Land loan effect discussed

Press, 15 August 1980, Page 2

Land loan effect discussed

PA' Wellington The-Minister of Lands (Mr V. S. Young) has revealed that he discussed the implications of the Fitzergerald loan application to the Marginal Lands Board with Mrs Audrey Fitzgerald’s father, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Maclntyre). Mr Young said he discussed the matter with Mr Maclntyre in late April and May, primarily in relation to the threatened resignation of Mr Roly White from the board if the Fitzgerald lo.an was approved.

Mr White lives in Mr MacIntyre’s East Cape electorate and it was his resignation that sparked the row over the $106,000 board loan to Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald to develop their farm near Wellington. Mr Young had asked the board to reconsider an earlier decision refusing a loan. Mr Young said the discussions resulted primarily from Mr White’s being a constituent of Mr Maclntyre. He said he did not discuss any details of the Fitzgerald application with Mr MacIntyre but said that after Mr White’s resignation, he had had discussions on the issues with Cabinet members, including Mr MacIntyre. Mr Young’s clarification of Mr Maclntyre’s position came in answer to a written question bv Mr G. W. R. Palmer (Lab., Christchurch Central).