Claim Beyond Ombudsman? (Press, 9 November 1978)

On 9 November 1978, the Public Service Association (P.S.A.) faced challenges in its efforts to refer allegations of intimidation against two public servants to the Ombudsman. The Canterbury regional secretary of the P.S.A., Mr J. M. McKenzie, indicated that while the association wished to pursue these allegations against the Minister of Social Welfare, Mr Walker, the possibility of doing so was undermined by legal limitations. According to McKenzie, although Mr M. S. Waghorne, one of the affected public servants, was willing to proceed, the Ombudsman lacked the authority to investigate the conduct of a member of Parliament unless it directly affected the operations of his own department. The P.S.A. alleged that Mr Walker attempted to pressure the two public servants who disagreed with his views. Mr Waghorne had previously written to Walker expressing his concerns over the Minister’s comments regarding an abortion survey conducted in Papanui. In response to Waghorne’s letter, Mr Walker sent copies to both the Minister of Health, Mr Gill, and the Health Department in Christchurch, where Waghorne was employed. Following this, Waghorne faced censure from his employer, leading him to feel "very angry" about the situation and seek an apology from Walker. Waghorne critiqued the Minister’s actions, questioning why private correspondence was forwarded to his employer and if Walker routinely shared such letters with employers. Waghorne contemplated legal action against Walker, pending the input of the Canterbury section committee of the P.S.A. regarding the matter. In the dispute, Walker accused Waghorne of misusing departmental letterhead and of assuming a senior role within the department. Waghorne defended himself, asserting he did not use departmental letterhead and that his letter did not imply any senior position. Additionally, a related issue was raised involving a former chairman of the P.S.A.'s broadcasting group, who had written to Walker in 1976 protesting a statement made by the Minister about proposed government broadcasting legislation. McKenzie noted that this matter might also lie outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. Mr Walker did not provide any comments on the allegations when contacted. The P.S.A.'s attempts to address these intimidation claims faced legal barriers, prompting concerns about the implications for public service employees expressing dissenting opinions.

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