P.M. seeks names of caucus talkers

Press, 6 December 1983, Page 2

P.M. seeks names of caucus talkers

PA Wellington The Prime Minister has asked reporters to name Government members of Parliament who have been talking to them about what happens in caucus. Mr Muldoon denied yesterday a report that last week he had undertaken to the caucus to consult more often with it over economic policy.

Mr Muldoon acknowledged there had been some caucus disquiet over economic policy focusing on interest rate regulations, but said dissent was not new.

It was a comparatively new trend in the National Party for perhaps a number of members of Parliament to talk to the press about caucus meetings and try to promote their ideas, he said.

“Caucus discussions are confidential. Those members who break that confid-

ence ... it is their own honour that is in question. “If you like to tell me their names, I am sure their caucus colleagues, the honourable ones, would be delighted to know and they would deal with them appropriately.” Asked how they would be dealt with, Mr Muldoon said, “You give me the names and then after it’s happened, I will seek the leave of caucus to tell you.” The journalists gave no names.

Mr Muldoon said a debate on economic policy had taken place consistently over all the years he had been in caucus. “I have been in caucus now since 1960 and there has never been a time when we have not had arguments on economic policy, and indeed, on every other kind of policy,” he said. It was a pity that there

was “at least one member whose sense of honour does not permit him or her to keep caucus discussions confidential.”

“I hope it is only one,” Mr Muldoon said.