Bitter exchange in House

Press, 13 August 1986, Page 8

Bitter exchange in House

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, urged the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, Sir Robert Muldoon, yesterday to “ooze out of public life” and “bask in nostalgia.” The two men engaged in a bitter crossfire during the Parliamentary debate on the. breakdown of A.N.Z.U.S. Sir Robert had, been sceptical of stated reasons why Mr Lange cut short his stay in Fiji and rushed back to New Zealand. He also questioned why Mr Lange did not speak in the debate before his

deputy, Mr Palmer, saying the Government should put up the “organgrinder,” not the "monkey.” Sir Robert said Mr Palmer said he had told Mr Lange of advice from the United States and Australia and the Prime Minister subsequently returned because of A.N.Z.U.S. But Parliament was later told by Mr Lange that he returned because of “indiscretions” of the Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, who tendered his resignation over a breach of security on release of

Budget material. “Who do we believe? Or do we disbelieve both of them?” Sir Robert asked. At that stage Mr Lange walked into the chamber, having returned from giving a press conference. Sir Robert then accused him of destroying the country’s economy, foreign affairs, and defence. "He sits there laughing like an idiot. History will show that this Prime Minister was the worst thing that happened to' this country over the whole of its recorded history because he is a man totally

lacking in integrity,” Sir Robert said. Mr Lange immediately accused Sir Robert of giving a promise when Prime Minister that no nuclear weapons had come into New Zealand. “That is the measure of that man’s integrity because Secretary of State George Shultz made very firm statements that they had,” said Mr Lange. “That man knew; that man chose to misrepresent the position.” Sir Robert replied that he had been accused of something that he believed did not happen.