Libertarian very concerned

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 3

Libertarian very concerned

Allegations made by the National member of . Parliament, Mr Ross Meurant, in the House on Tuesday were Insulting and inflammatory, said the chairman of the Canterbury Council for Civil Liberties, Professor Bill Willmott, last evening. He said the council expressed deep' 'concern. over the remarks that al-.< . Ifegitd 'Some-"Maori adflv- : tots were plotting to overthrow the Government of New Zealand. He said making such statements in the House was an abuse bf •_* Phrliamentaryprivilege. “Not only are they very bad in content, but they also raise some fundamental questions about the use of police records.” He said police records included material , that

had not been tested in court, mere suspicions, innuendo, and uncorroborated evidence. “Mr Meurant is using that kind of information to make his claims, with no possibility of anyone checking them out He has abused his oath of, allegiance as a policeman, and*he brings, the.police by doing “To make his claims in. Parliament does not allow the accused to defend themselves. It is therefore an abhse of Parliamentary privilege; anta highly; dangehnls dhd”-” • < Professor ’ Willmott said Mr Meurant had done the cause of harmony in New Zealand a terrible disservice and that Maori activists had every right to advocate publicly their political views. '