Mr Banks scoffs at hunger strike

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 6

Mr Banks scoffs at hunger strike

National’s outspoken member of Parliament, Mr John Banks, continued his get-tough campaign against repeated violent offenders at a Fendalton campaign meeting last evening. He scoffed at a hunger strike by some Paparua prisoners who objected to having their meals on paper plates. His 30-minute speech was a patriotic appeal to an audience of more than 200, which responded with frequent bursts of applause. Mr Banks, the member of Parliament for Whangarei, draped a New Zealand flag over his speaker’s stand and said, “I’ll fight for the preservation of Christian principles, our British heritage and the future of our country. This country desperately needs a renewed

sense of hope and commitment, and a massive dose of patriotism.” Mr Banks said the dismissal ' of the High Court contempt charge against him had ended “seven months of political agony ... a diet of broken glass and raw meat.” New Zealand’s criminal justice system had gone berserk. Mr Banks said people had to say, “Stop, enough is enough.” He believed his campaign against repeated offenders was “totally right and well overdue.” He pledged that the National Party would make prisons places that people feared: places of learning, places of work. The crowd responded enthusiastically when Mr Banks said gang members’ days were

numbered. There was more applause for the party’s “no work, no dole” policy, and still more when he said, “We have got to start teaching kids English before we start teching them taha Maori.” Mr Banks said New Zealand’s anti-nuclear legislation was “an act of international treason” for which the country would be punished. "I send a signal to the Prime Minister tonight: a fool is someone who fights his friends outside the country, and allows his enemies to attack us from within,” Mr Banks said. The Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus, is suing Mr Banks for $250,000 for alleged remarks concerning the Ruatoria arson police inquiry.

A writ had been filed in

the High Court in Wellington about a week ago, seeking damages from Mr Banks for statements he allegedly made at a National Party meeting in Hawke’s Bay about two months ago, Mrs Hercus told the “Daily News” in New Plymouth last evening.

His comments were about the police inquiry into the Ruatoria arsons of recent months.

Mrs Hercus, who had addressed a Labour Party New Plymouth electorate meeting in the city, could not give the exact date of the meeting where the alleged remarks were made nor the precise place.

She said she had no idea when the case would be heard and would not comment further on the matter.