Mr McLay sees need to change law

Press, 15 July 1985, Page 37

Mr McLay sees need to change law

The law will have to be changed to allow public servants special leave to participate in the All Black tour of South. Africa, says the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay. “Governments, National or Labour, cannot direct the State Services Commission in that area,” he said yeste“The law actually makes it an offence for member of Parliament or a politician to interfere in the proper exercise bv the State Services Commission of its 4.

various discretions,” Mr McLay told a post-caucus press conference. The commission had made its decision in pursuance of the Government policy of supporting the Gleneagles Agreement. Mr McLay said a National Government would have to seriously consider changing the law if it wanted to preserve the right of people to hold on to their jobs in such circumstances. “They are not breaking the law of New Zealand in going overseas, yet they are F

going to lose their jobs in the process. “That in our view is wrong. “It is not a question of sporting contacts with South Africa as such - it’s a question of whether a person who is doing something entirely legal should lose his job as a result,” he said. The inconsistency was highlighted by the fact that the Auckland Hospital Board, which was funded by the Government, had given leave to one of its doctors (the halfback, David Kirk) to tour, he said.