‘Bad advice’ in alleged leak row, says Mr Moyle

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 4

‘Bad advice’ in alleged leak row, says Mr Moyle

PA Auckland The man at the centre of the row over the alleged dollar-float leak accused the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, yesterday of having taken bad advice. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, said at Auckland Airport on his return from three weeks in the Middle East that Mr McLay and his team had shown “complete hamfistedness” in trying to blow up an issue from nothing. “I think he was badly advised,” he said.

The row erupted two weeks ago when the Opposition alleged that Mr Moyle had leaked to a meat and wool section meeting of Federated Farmers the Government’s plans to float /X)

the dollar. Federated Farmers joined Mr Moyle in denying any such leak took place. Mr Moyle said the National Party was very aware of the good rapport he had developed with the farming community. If it could break that rapport, he said, it could probably do itself a lot of good politically.

Mr Moyle said that a Minister must always discuss economic questions with the people he represented “and I have no hesitation in saying I will con-, tinue to do so.”

“But that is a vastly different thing from revealing any decision by the Government in what might be a very sensitive area.”