P.M. on Cabinet health

Press, 13 April 1984, Page 23

P.M. on Cabinet health

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, disagrees with the practice of the late Sir Keith Holyoake’s requiring Cabinet ministers to give him medical certificates.

“Keith Holyoake used to always want a medical certificate from Ministers’ doctors,” Sir Robert said. “I really disagree with the policy that Keith had. But I do expect Ministers to have regular health checks and I would expect any Minister who has a significant health problem to let me know, and in general I do know.” Three Cabinet Ministers are absent from Parliament for health reasons. Sir Robert said the Cabinet had an “informal” rule

that all Ministers have medical checks at least once a year, preferably twice a year. ‘“lf a member has any health problem he would normally let me know about it.”

Sir Robert emphasised that the Minister of Transport, Mr Gair, who had been admitted to hospital for the removal of a bowel tumour, had told him some time before his health problem was made public. He said the health of the Minister of Customs, Mr Allen, who is also absent from the Beehive, had not been discussed by the Government caucus. “Nor will it be,” he said. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Highet, is still recuperating at home after being in hospital for a "severe viral infection.” His office does not expect him back at work for “a matter of weeks.”