Alleged breach of privilege for hearing

Press, 29 May 1982, Page 2

Alleged breach of privilege for hearing

PA Wellington Parliament’s privileges committee has decided to hold a formal hearing on an alleged breach of privilege concerning a newspaper article. The author of the article, a Social Credit research officer, Mr Terry Heffernan, and the publishers of the “New Zealand Times" newspaper will be invited to make submissions to the committee. The Minister of Justice and chairman of the privileges committee, Mr McLay, said yesterday the committee would meet again on June 3. He said the committee had met yesterday morning to consider procedural- matters arising from the charge that a breach had occurred. The article discussed the Parliamentary pairs practice — where the Opposition stands down one of its members from voting in the valid absence of a Government member. Social Credit has continually attacked Labour’s use of the pairing system this year.

The Chief Opposition Whip. Mr Jonathan Hunt, complained in the House early this month that the article was intended to bring Parliament into ridicule and contempt. The Speaker (Sir Richard Harrison) ruled that a matter of privilege was involved. Mr McLay said that both Mr Heffernan and the publishers of the weekly newspaper would be entitled to be represented at the formal hearing by legal counsel, in accordance with usual practice.