M.P. cleared of breach

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 12

M.P. cleared of breach

F¥i Wellington The Opposition frontbencher and former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr R. J. Tizard. has been cleared of a charge of breaching Parliamentary privilege. The Attorney-General (Mr McLay), reporting the decision of the Privileges Committee to Parliament said the charge was not found to be of sufficient consequence to be a breach of privilege. Mr Tizard had been charged with misleading the House on September 22 when he told the Speaker (Sir

Richard Harrison) that he \ was not .challenging the courage and honesty of Government members after an objection to something he had said. During discussion on the cancellation of the 1973 Springbok tour after moves by the former Prime Minister, Mr Norman Kirk, Mr Tizard (Otahuhu) alluded to “courage and honesty the Government has not got.” When challenged, Mr Tizard said he was attributing courage and honesty to the late Mr Kirk. The Prime Minister (Mr

Muldoon) later raised ttie matter in the House and Sir Richard ruled that there was a prima facie case for referral to the Privileges Committee.

Mr McLay said Mr Tizard could possibly be said to be "the beneficiary of that old Scottish verdict, not proven.” He said Mr Tizard ’had "grossly misinterpreted” remarks of Mr Muldoon .’ in saying the Prime Minister and other Government members had mean intelligences.

Mr Muldoon had told the House that he did not regard the matter as trivial, which Mr Tizard yesterday took issue with.

“I was notj aware of how mean some of the members opposite were,” Mr "Tizard said.

Mr McLay said, however, that Mr Tizard had at best failed to Sell the Speaker everything he said, and at worst had misled Sir Richard in what he said. ‘‘The member did not report to you what he said. He reported pnly part and then the unspoken part." Mr McLay said..