Writers criticise P.M.

Press, 24 November 1980, Page 6

Writers criticise P.M.

PA Wellington The writers’ organisation, P.E.N., has criticised one of its members, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), for trying to stop a fellow-member journalist, Tom Scott, “being accredited for professional work outside this country.” The letter to Mr Muldoon was written by Ms L. Edmond, the president of the international organisation’s New Zealand centre, on the instruction of the national executive. In it, she said P.E.N. deplored Mr Muldoon’s attempt to silence independent opinion and reminded him that membership carried the responsibility to understand and promote its aims.

i The reproduced letter, in 1 , the latest P.E.N. gazette, i ' said Mr Muldoon’s publicly i ■ stated reason for trying to prevent Mr Scott’s accredita- t ■ tion. had been that he did i ; not care for Mr Scott’s kind 1 ! of writing. ’ “This was widely taken to i i mean that you objected to 1 ■ him because he had often 1 ■ been pointedly critical of s ; your own policies and : stance.” ’ Ms Edmond, who is next ’ year’s Katherine Mansfield i • Fellow, went on to remind ’ : Mr Muldoon of P.E.N.’s : . charter which dedicated its i ; members to the ideal of . freedom of speech, informaI tion. and discussion. The charter also believed

free criticism of governments, administrations, and institutions was imperative. “By your action in trying to deny Mr Scott access to information and to exclude him from a New Zealand team of journalists ( travelling overseas, you have failed to keep faith with the P.E.N. charter,” the letter said. “We deplore your attempt to silence independent opinion and remind you that membership of this organisation carries with it the responsibility to understand and promote its aims.”