Sticker thought sign of affiliation

Press, 22 September 1984, Page 2

Sticker thought sign of affiliation

PA Wellington The closeness to the Labour Party of the Broadcasting Corporation’s new' chairman, Mr Hugh Rennie; was illustrated by his driving a car with a Labour bumper sticker during the General Election, the Acting Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, told Parliament yesterday. In a personal explanation to Parliament, Mr McLay denied that he had based his claim on the employment of Mr Rennie’s wife with the Labour Party Parliamentary Research Unit. "My remarks about his political association were based rather on the clearest understanding of his recent political affiliations, including the fact that during the election campaign he drove a car sporting Labour Party bumper stickers,” Mr McLay said. Mr McLay said that Mr Rennie had called on him to withdraw his comments because they were based on his wife’s employment. But Mr McLay said that it was Mr Rennie who should apologise. That impression had been gained because of comments left out of a Radio New Zealand “Morning Report” item. "If he is to take up the position of B.C.N.Z. chairman he should undertake as his first priority a review of the corporation’s news service to ensure unbiased, accurate reporting,” Mr McLay said. The report had left out his comments at a press conference on Thursday that judgment based on the relationship of spouses was unfair criticism.