Socred seeks right to counsel

Press, 10 May 1982, Page 4

Socred seeks right to counsel

PA Wellington The Social Credit Political League has written to the Attorney-General (Mr McLay) about legal representation for its research officer, Mr Terry Hefferenan, before Parliament’s Privileges Committee. Mr Hefferenan, who works at Parliament for the league’s two members of the House, has been referred to the committee in relation to a report he wrote in a Sunday newspaper, the “New Zealand Times.” He has said, “I am quite happy to appear before the Privileges Committee to state my case and answer any queries members of the committee may have. “What does concern me is the possible nature and format of the proceedings. I am led to believe, for example, that I do not . . . have an automatic right to be assisted by counsel in appearing before the committee.

"Also of concern is the fact that the committee’s proceedings would almost certainly be conducted in secret without any representatives of the news media, other than possibly the editor of the ‘New Zealand Times,’ who, like myself, may be appearing in the capacity of an accused person. “A letter is being sent to the Attorney-General, as chairman of the committee, seeking clarification of these and other basis issues. “I must, of course, remain a little apprehensive with regard to the fact that, in spite of ‘assurances’ from members of the National and Labour parties participating in the Parliamentary debate, the committee is, in fact, constituted entirely by representatives of parties opposed to that of which I am a member and for which, in my capacity as parliamentary research officer, I work.”