Mr Chapman praises evicted journalist

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 1

Mr Chapman praises evicted journalist

PA Dunedin The “Listener” journalist, Tom Scott, is a “very competent journalist” whose column is usually the first thing the president of the National Party, Mr G. A, Chapman, reads in the publication each week, according to Mr Chapman in Dunedin yesterday. Mr Chapman was asked for his reaction to a direction by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) for the removal of Mr Scott from yesterday’s post-Cab-inet press conference, and was asked whether this

behaviour was consistent with a change of style. “I have no knowledge of the facts of the press conference," Mr Chapman said. “But as Mr Scott is not contending for the leadership of the National Party (in Parliament) I am quite happy to talk about him. “I think he is a very competent journalist. I enjoy his work, bearing in mind that it’s satire on politics. It is usually the first column I read when I pick up the Listener, and I treat it for what it is — a lighthearted look at politics.

“It does not do any harm to laugh occasionally in politics,” Mr Chapman said. “I think Tom Scott provides a useful vehicle for that” Mr Chapman’s main remarks were referring to an incident earlier in the day when Mr Scott was evicted from the press conference by Mr Muldoon, who asserted that the journalist had made an insulting remark. After the conference, Mr Muldoon called the chairman of the Press Gallery, Mr Alistair Carthew, to his office to complain about the incident.

Mr Muldoon had Just begun telling journalists about yesterday’s Cabinet meeting when he saw Mr Scott seated near the rear of the Beehive theatrette. “No, Mr Scott," he said. “Sorry.” “I was just wondering whether in your new attitude to the press, you’d let me stay? Do you want me to leave?” Mr Scott asked. Mr Muldoon then asked whether any of his staff were present and asked a press officer. Miss Sue Elliott. “Take him away, will you?” To which Mr Scott

reiterated: “Is this the example of the turnedover new leaf. Mr Muldoon?” Mr Muldoon did not reply, but it was that last remark which prompted his complaint to the gallery chairman. An obviously embarrassed Miss Elliott walked toward Mr Scott, but he commented, ’Til go quietly,” and left. The incident opens up the scar tissue of the row between the two over Mr Scott's attendance at tne Commonwealth heads of government regional meeting in New Delhi and is

bound to reverberate back on Mr Muldoon in his battle to retain the leadership of the National Party. Mr Scott has been told not to attend Cabinet news conferences because he is working for a weekly publication. But he noted in an interview with NZPA after the incident that Mr Muldoon did not eject Mr Colin James, who works for the weekly publication the “National Business Review,” from yesterday's news conference.