Open Socred Cabinet?

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 4

Open Socred Cabinet?

PA Wellington A Social Credit government would be prepared to offer Cabinet positions to Parliamentarians of other parties but has yet to consider making appointments to the Cabinet of people not elected to Parliament. This is the party’s present position, according to Social Credit’s research officer, Mr Terry Heffernan. He said that it was established Social. Credit policy as set out in its manifesto that consideration .would be given by Social Credit in office to appointing non-Social Credit Parliamentarians to the Cabinet. It would be done on the basis that they were clearly the best people for the job and that they were willing to serve in. such a way. “For example, we could decide that the present At-torney-General (Mr McLay).

was obviously the best person to hold that office and accordingly offer,, him tjie position in a Social Credit Government,” Mr Heffernan said. Social Credit’s manifesto also said that the Speaker of Parliaments should be a Supreme Court judge. Referring to a suggestion by the East Coast Bays Social Credit member of Parliament, Mr G. T. Knapp, that the party should con-/ sider appointing non-Parli-amentanans to. Cabinet posts, Mr Heffernan said this was, something the party might consider if Mr Knapp put, it forward. . At this stage, he said, it was the party’s intention to elect its members of a Cabinet from among caucus members as was done by the Labour Party, but this could be subject‘to change.