M.P. attacks Mr Piesse’s past

Press, 13 October 1983, Page 8

M.P. attacks Mr Piesse’s past

PA Wellington A trade unionist bidding for the Labour Party’s Avon nomination, Mr Paul Piesse, had an “appalling record” and it was a disgrace that he should be a candidate for any serious political party, a Government member of Parliament said last evening. The National member for Fendalton, Mr P. R. Burdon, told Parliament that Mr Piesse had been the defendant in a Christchurch court case 11 years ago over the death of a woman after an anti-British demonstration by Irish sympathisers in Cathedral Square. Newspaper reports of court proceedings at the time said that Margaret Elizabeth McClelland, aged 78, died in hospital two days after the demonstration. Private informations laid with the then Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch alleged that Mr Piesse, then a public servant, aged 30, had struck Mrs McClelland and her companion, nah Robinson, aged Gi), with a placard.

The reports said that Mr Piesse, in evidence, said he had moved the placard in front of his face after he was spat at, and that he had no intention of striking anyone or inflicting injury. ■ At the time, Mr Piesse denied charges of assaulting Mrs McClelland with intent to injure her, and assaulting Miss Robinson. The charge of assaulting Mrs McClelland with intent to injure was later amended to one of common assault. On that charge Mr Piesse was discharged without conviction. He was convicted of assaulting Miss Robinson. On each charge he was ordered to pay $2O towards the cost of prosecution, according to the reports of the case, Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., had said it could not be concluded that the death of Mrs McClelland had been caused by a blow from Mr Piesse. She was an elderly woman who could have died from natural causes. Mr Piesse is challenging the sitting member of Parliament for Avon, Mrs

Mary Batchelor, for the electorate’s nomination. In Parliament last evening Mr Burdon paid tribute to Mrs Batchelor, saying her predicament illustrated what had happened to the Labour Party. “She is an honest, hardworking and traditional Labour Party member, and represents the grass roots of the party. She has been attacked by a person who is typical of the new breed of Labour candidates.

“Mr Piesse is a spokesman for the new Labour Left. He supports total socialisation,” Mr Burdon said.

“The man has an appalling record. It is a disgrace that he should be a candidate for any serious political party.” Mr Burdon referred to a 1972 newspaper account of Mr Piesse’s court appearance, and said he read the article with sadness.

Mr Burdon was speaking during the debate on Ministerial replies to questions. He said the Labour Party was ~*in decline, lacking leadership, principle, and

courage. The leader of the Labour party, Mr Lange, had been “stabbed in the back,” his members had been “disloyal” and the president of the party (Mr J. P. Anderton) had shown a “disgraceful lack of support,” Mr Burdon said. Asked to comment, on Mr Burdon’s allegations, Mr Piesse said last evening that he had never assaulted anybody. “I have been the subject of assaults, both on my person and character, and they are equally disgusting,” he said.

He said he had not even been fined after the court case, which showed “just how inconsequential the matter is.” The prosecution was a private one and he had called police witnesses in his defence.

Referring to Mr Burdon, Mr Piesse said: “It is a mark of the man that he makes statements on the basis of newspaper reports. “It is typical of a mushroom farmer to describe

things in the dark,” he said. “It pleases me to be attacked by the National Party. Were I supported by them I would be an inappropriate person to be a Labour candidate. Those in the Labour Party who are supported by National Party people should look to their politics. “Personality politics is a characteristic of this Government, which distorts events and assassinates character to divert attention from its record in mismanaging the economy, creating unemployment, destroying education, reducing health services, and thereby attacking the lives and livelihoods of thousands of New Zealanders.” Mr Piesse said his decision to stand for the Avon selection would not be changed by last evening’s events.

“Members of the Labour Party in Avon will judge me according to their assessment of my character, not that of a rich Fendalton Tory,” he said.