Dalgety trip defended

Press, 27 November 1980, Page 6

Dalgety trip defended

PA Wellington It was very unusual for a private lawyer to be employed by the Government on an assignment such as the forthcoming committee meeting of International Monetary Fund and World Bank governors in Manila, said the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) yesterday. “But this is a unique occasion and fthe particular expertise is not widely available," he' said, in reply to a question by reporters about his announcement that a Wellington lawyer, Mr J. D. Dalgety, would accompany ■him to the meeting as the chairman’s legal adviser. Mr Muldoon will chair the committee, ■ , which will analyse legal arguments regarding the issue of granting the. Palestine Liberation Organisation observer status at annual meetings of the J.M.F. and the World Bank. Each.member country on the committeess will be represented by a governor and a legal .adviser. To-a further question, Mr Muldpon said it was not yet cleanwhether Mr -Dalgety’s fees and expenses would be met* by the Government or the World Bank. - (Mr Dalgety represented Mr Muldoon in a recent de-famation-.action against the “Listener” satirist, Tom Scott. The case was settled out at court.)