"Widespread support’ for fund to meet Erebus hearing cost

Press, 13 January 1982, Page 2

"Widespread support’ for fund to meet Erebus hearing cost

PA Levin The Levin man who offered to start a fund to meet the cost of taking the Mount Erebus case to the Privy Council said yesterday that he has had support from throughout New Zealand. Mr Les Pridmore, whose wife died in the crash, has had hundreds of telephone calls since he announced last week that he was willing to give $5OO to start a fund to cover Mr Justice Mahon’s costs. “I accept Mr Justice Mahon’s subsequent statement that he is not in favour of a public appeal and that the Government should bear the cost of going to the Privy Council,” said Mr Pridmore. “But it is just old-

fashioned justice I am seeking. I felt it was time to make a stand and overcome the apathy. It is long overdue that someone spoke out and that something was done to arrive at justice." Mr Pridmore said that he had had calls from people from throughout New Zealand supporting him.

“It . really has been tremendous to feel that I am not alone in this,” he said. “But I want to bow out of it now and let more experienced . people take over.” Earlier, Mr Pridmore said that he had made the offer of $5OO to start a fund for Judge Mahon, “to cover a loophole in case ..the Government won’t pay;”

“I was at the Commission

of Inquirj' when Mr Justice Mahon was sitting." Mr Pridmore said. “They tried to treat him as though it was his first court case. “I was there. I saw it all happening. He must have been inwardly fuming at what he heard. They were trying to pull the wool over his eyes and yet he is a man of vast experience.

“It is so wonderful to have a man with Mr Justice Mahon’s integrity to speak out and stick to his guns and not be subdued by comments from others,” he said. “Because of what I saw and heard I have wanted for so long to do something, but it had to be something constructive. and if necessary, this fund would be constructive in getting justice done.”