Rebel will not attend executive meeting

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 8

Rebel will not attend executive meeting

PA Wellington The National Party rebel, Dr lan Shearer, will not attend today’s party executive meeting set to decide his future as a party member. In December the executive deferred a decision on the former Cabinet Minister’s future after receiving a request that his invitation to attend that meeting be adjourned until the New Year. But Dr Shearer told NZPA from Auckland last evening that he would not attend today’s Wellington meeting after advice from his lawyer. Dr Shearer is suing the party president, Mrs Wood, for alleged defamation after his suspension from the party in October. He said he did not want to prejudice that action. Dr Shearer was sus-

pended after raising questions over party finances, loans to members of Parliament, and the party administration, but he was reinstated in November after legal advice and pending further consideration of the issue. After the December meeting, Mrs Wood said the executive was prepared to bend over backwards to ensure Dr Shearer had every opportunity to put his position clearly. Mrs Wood attended a meeting at National Party headquarters in Wellington yesterday, but she had no comment to make on today’s executive meeting. Dr Shearer said there were other considerations in his decision not to attend. He had sought information on who would chair the meeting and

whether he would be able to question Mrs Wood and the party’s director-gen-eral, Mr Barrie Leay.

He had sent a letter to the executive responding to allegations made by Mrs Wood in a letter to him when he was suspended. Having responded to various allegations, he said it was up to the executive to assess his actions and his responses. However, he emphasised that the reason why he would not be attending the meeting was because of the court action. He had no indication when legal proceedings would begin. Mrs Wood is due to hold a press conference after the executive meeting this afternoon.