Members play numbers game

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 8

Members play numbers game

I i ' j! !■ 11 I PA Wellington News that , the : National Party gave (out the telephone number of sits leader, Mr Bolger, with every contribution of more than $lO,OOO caused the Government to ponder the number’s worth in Parliament yesterday. , •! ii M Replying to a question by Dr Clive Matthewson

: !' A I- ;'I (Lab., Dunedin West), the Minister] for Stateowned Enterprises, Mr Prebbl ej said he knew of a pub lib complaint in the “Sundiy News’* newspaper tliat “anyone making I a $lO,OOO contribution I to] | National’s coffer, [will even be provided with the personal phone [number of the lesader of the Party, Jim BblgeM [

While it was not | illegal for a person to his [telephone number to another person, Mr Prebble said it was difficult to imagine why anyone would buy Mr Bolger’s number, ; because it was freely available in the telephone directory. He then promptly [undercut ' the National Party’s asking price. ' ! : ;

“For those who wish to telephone the Leader of the Opposition and don’t have $lO,OOO his phone number is listed, and 'it is Te Kuiti 86213,”; Mr Prebble said. Aiming for the j Government’s vulnerable spot 1 ! Mr Bolger sug- | gested (hat when a | party was 20 per cent ahead ini the polls its leader’s telephone num-

ber was !“a [ popular piece of information, that may even want to pay $lO,OOO for.” [ Speaking as 'someone who had been ahead in the polls more often than Mr Bolger, Mr Prebble said, “When you do go ahead the] quickest way to go [down in the, polls is to start [trying to sell off' your telephone numbers.” ]