Privileges Cases (Press, 4 August 1976)

On 4 August 1976, the Wellington Parliament's Privileges Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss procedures related to three cases of alleged breaches of privileges involving Members of Parliament. The Under-Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr K. R. Allen, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rowling, and Labour front bencher Mr C. J. Moyle from Mangere were under scrutiny after the Speaker, Sir Roy Jack, determined there were prima facie grounds for these allegations. Additionally, the Speaker had previously ruled against two other claims of privilege breaches. The Privileges Committee, which had a history of addressing such matters, was tasked with deciding whether to summon the three members to provide verbal evidence, invite written submissions, or base their conclusions solely on the Speaker's findings. The committee wielded significant authority, theoretically able to impose severe penalties including imprisonment for those found guilty of privilege violations. Past cases included the then Leader of the Opposition, Mr Muldoon, and a nightclub owner named Carmen, both of whom appeared before the committee in previous sessions. Carmen had been reprimanded after making controversial claims about the sexual orientations of certain MPs, while Mr Muldoon faced "appropriate censure" after criticising the former Speaker. During the meeting, the committee, which comprised Mr Muldoon, the Minister of Agriculture Mr MacIntyre (filling in for the Deputy Prime Minister), the Minister of Justice Mr Thomson, the Leader of the Opposition Mr Rowling, and his deputy Mr Tizard, was expected to elect a chairman. Tradition dictated that the Minister of Justice would hold this position. If individual members were called to appear, Mr Rowling would temporarily step down for the duration of his case, allowing for another Opposition member to take his place on the committee. The outcome of this meeting would set the direction for addressing the privilege breaches and determining the accountability of the involved parliamentarians.

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