Rebuke over money probe

Press, 26 September 1984, Page 1

Rebuke over money probe

By MICHAEL HANNAH in Wellington

The Leader of the opposition, Sir Robert Muldoon, was rebuked by a Parliamentary committee chairman yesterday for alleging that the Treasury and Reserve Bank were trying to prevent an investigation into the post-election devaluation. The rebuke came from Mr Jim Anderton, who is chairing a sub-committee of Parliament’s Public Expenditure Committee looking into the circumstances that led to speculation on the devaluation during the election campaign. At a press conference yesterday, Sir Robert referred to a legal opinion submitted by the Treasury and Reserve Bank, which has questioned the sub-com-mittee’s legal standing.

Sir Robert accused the two departments of acting jointly to prevent the investigation from proceeding. “There is no doubt in my mind that they are most concerned that the bad advice that they gave both my Government and the new Government is being thoroughly investigated, and will be seen to be bad advice," he said.

“I do not see it as a rather desperate attempt by the people involved to prevent an investigation.” Questioned further, Sir Robert said, “I won’t go any further from what I have just said, but when the facts are revealed, it will be apparent that neither Treasury nor the Reserve Bank wishes to see the kind of scrutiny that this committee is going to make. There is not a party division on this. Mr Anderton in particular is neck and neck leading the field with me." Sir Robert said that Treasury and the Reserve Bank were concerned that “the inadequacy of the advice" would be revealed publlfly. Asked ! whedfet .he Was prejudging the findings of the committee, of which he is also a member, Sir Robert replied that he was only saying what he had said before the election, that the departments’ advice was bad.

It is customary for new Parliamentarians to offer a tribute to their immediate predecessors, but Mr Shirleybrought a rare enthusiasm to the task last evening. He said Sir Wallace; would always be recognised as a man of integrity and that he combined intelligence and courage with compassion, and humility with humour.

Reviewing Sir Wallace’s political career, Mr Shirley said Sir Wallace had never actively sought prominence but never shirked responsibility. He also said that, although Sir Wallace had risen to be Prime Minister,

“timing” had been unkind to him. * '

He had been denied a fulllength maiden speech because he had entered Parliament on a by-election and, on his retirement, he had been denied a valedictory address because of the abrupt dissolution of the House.

Mr Shirley rebuked those who had criticised Sir Wallace’s political style, saying that they had mistaken sincerity and mild-mannered consideration for others as signs of weakness. “How wrong they were and it is New Zealand that is the poorer for it,” he said.

“The abrasive, divisive, and increasingly autocratic style of the National Government since 1976 has taken a heavy toll on the

economic and social welfare of this land, and many of those who once revelled in the self-destruction arising from confrontation politics now quietly hang their heads in shame. “It was with cold anger and determination that New Zealanders went to the polls on July 14 and delivered an overwhelming mandate to the Labour Party to once more pick up the shattered pieces and rebuild,” said Mr Shirley. While Sir Wallace had spent all but three years of his political career in Opposition, Mr Shirley said he faced “very good prospect for a long and continued period in Government” which grew brighter every day he sat- in the Chamber and witnessed “the disorder opposite.”