Minister called on to resign

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 6

Minister called on to resign

PA Wellington The Acting Leader of the Opposition, Mr McKinnon, said yesterday that

Mr Tapsell could “only bring shame on his Arawa tribe” by remaining as Minister of Police.

Mr McKinnon was responding to reported comments by Mr Tapsell, who said from the United States that he had fought in the Cabinet against cuts in the police budget. He was overruled, and it was announced on Tuesday that 267 police positions would be lost.

Mr McKinnon said it was “totally unacceptable” for Mr Tapsell to say he disagreed with his Cabinet colleagues and to then continue in the job. “If he has any honour he will resign; he can only

bring shame on his Arawa tribe to remain in the job under those circumstances.”

Mr McKinnon said the Government was relying on the loyalty of the police who did not stop

work and strike. “For that loyalty they get kicked in the guts.” Mr McKinnon said New Zealanders would be shaken to hear the Commissioner of Police, Mr John Jamieson, say the police were unlikely to catch many offenders. “It is bewildering in the

extreme to hear the Commissioner state that more unsolved cases will be dropped. “The Government may as well give credit cards to all criminals,” Mr McKinnon said.