P.M. promises no cover-up at inquiry into DC10 disaster

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 1

P.M. promises no cover-up at inquiry into DC10 disaster

PA Wellington The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) yesterday declared there would be no “cover-ups” and “no whitewash” in the investigations surrounding the Mount Erebus air disaster.

Addressing the Hutt Rotary Club he said: “There will be no whitewash, there will be no cover-ups and at the end of the day I am sure that we will he able to say that whatever led up to the Mount Erebus disaster there is little likelihood of such a thing happening again.” Mr Muldoon compared the decision of Air New Zealand to challenge part of the findings of the Royal Commission into the disaster with the decision of the Police Association to challenge allegations made against police officers in the report of the Arthur Allan Thomas Commission. Making what he called a “simple analysis” of Mr Justice, Mahon’s report, Mr Muldoon said that some findings were based on known facts and agreed interpretations. “In so far as these findings are a matter of opinion, 1 believe that Mr Justice Mahon’s opinion must be respected. He

made the most detailed investigation of anyone and his opinion carried with it the weight of his reputation.” , It was possible, however, said Mr Muldoon, that the argument would continue on what finally must be a matter of opinion. “The final series of findings, however, is in a different category. That is the findings which are summed up in the phrase, ‘an orchestrated litany of lies.’ “These findings constitute the allegation that certain officers of Air New Zealand conspired to present false evidence to the Com; -ion of Inquiry. It is these flad agc which Air New Zer’and will seek to overturn in the High Court,” he said. “The difference between these findings ar.d the others is that apart from certain allegations that Individual witnesses gave eviden j that was not correct, Mr Justice Mahon does not adduce ' evi-

dence to support what in essence he has as a conspiracy.” Another report from Wellington said that Parliament’s Public Expenditure Committee decided to investigate Air New Zealand, once it had obtained the authority to do so, according to the chairman of the committee, Mr John Falloon. The committee would establish a sub-committee to conduct the investigation and invite the AuJit Office to help, said Mr Falloon.

The investigation would be made “as part of its (the committee’s) general investigation into public accountability of Govern-ment-owned or fund'-' organisations." “It must be emphasised that the interest of the Public Expenditure Committee in the public accountability of Govern-ment-owned or funded bodies, and in Air New Zealand in particular, goes back before the DC 10 accident.” Mr Falloon said.