Public Servant Risks Dismissal (Press, 13 December 1978)

A Christchurch public servant, Mr Michael Waghorne, faces potential dismissal following the public release of his private correspondence with former Minister of Social Welfare, Mr H. J. Walker. Waghorne, who works as an assistant management services officer with the Health Department, has been asked to respond to charges laid under the State Services Act of 1962 by a deadline of Saturday. The department claims that Waghorne expressed personal views in an interview with the Wellington "Evening Post," which included comments suggesting that the Minister of Health, Mr Gill, was his employer. The controversy stems from a telegram Waghorne sent to Walker after the latter lost his Papanui seat in the General Election. The telegram, made public by Walker, contained the message: “May I sincerely wish you the most reviled and unhappy retirement ever experienced by a New Zealand politician.” Walker justified releasing the telegram to illustrate why he referred an earlier letter from Waghorne to Mr Gill. He indicated that Waghorne faced reprimand for this behaviour and remarked that Waghorne's political leanings were well known in Christchurch. In the same interview with the "Evening Post," Waghorne expressed satisfaction at Walker's departure from office, branding him as “a danger to democracy.” He added that any politician using their powers to silence opponents should be removed from the political scene. The roots of the conflict appear to date back to August 1977 when Waghorne, alongside two others, conducted an abortion survey in Papanui and other electorates. The results were dismissed as “rubbish” by Walker when questioned by Radio Avon, prompting Waghorne to confront Walker over the suggestion that they had "cooked" the results or were being dishonest. After receiving no response to initial inquiries, Waghorne sent a follow-up letter, to which Walker replied only after receiving a more courteously phrased request and subsequently forwarded Waghorne’s concerns to Mr Gill. Waghorne also identified himself as the secretary of the National Gay Rights Coalition of New Zealand, implying that this may have contributed to the perception of his political stance. The charges against him could lead to various outcomes, including dismissal, caution, reprimand, a fine, a salary cut, or transfer, depending on the findings of an inquiry potentially set up by the State Services Commission. Neither Waghorne nor the Public Service Association has provided comments regarding the ongoing situation.

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