Party labours under weight of affair

Taito Phillip Field

Labour is unlikely to take any internal disciplinary action against Taito Phillip Field for some time yet, with the party's president arguing such a move might pre-judge a police inquiry into the MP's dealings.

The ongoing Field affair is expected to be a topic of robust discussion at this weekend's meeting of Labour's ruling council in Auckland.

Labour Party president Mike Williams yesterday said that, although he could not predict what would be decided at the meeting, he thought that starting action against Mr Field would not be appropriate.

"My personal opinion is that beginning some kind of censure process under the constitution would be premature while there's a live police inquiry," Mr Williams said.

He said he was being told by Pacific Island people and "everybody" else that Mr Field should instead be allowed "due process".

"Let natural justice take its course," Mr Williams said.

Labour has come under intense political pressure this week as fresh allegations swirl around Mr Field.

The party slipped 7.7 points behind National in the Herald DigiPoll published this week, and it faces a strong public call to pay back any money unlawfully spent on its controversial pledge card before last year's election.

Mr Field has been placed on leave while a police inquiry is held into his dealings, which could take months.

One of Labour's key support bases, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, has withdrawn its support for Mr Field and said it was looking for a suitable new candidate.

National secretary Andrew Little yesterday said that he has some sympathy for Mr Williams' argument about natural justice for Mr Field.

However, he was also concerned about the Field saga continuing to drag on during the police inquiry and further damaging the Labour Party.

"It's undermining people's confidence in [the party]," Mr Little said of the Field affair.

"Having the police inquiry simply means the thing is unresolved - that has the potential to continue to cause damage."

Mr Little said the union was not proposing to push for disciplinary action at Labour's council meeting this weekend.

The Service and Food Workers Union, which has a large number of members in Mr Field's electorate, is canvassing opinion among its members before deciding on a stand.

National's immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith, said Labour should discipline Mr Field regardless of the police inquiry.

"The Ingram report contains some serious problems for a person to continue as a member of Parliament," Dr Smith said. "This brings us all into disrepute because it just reflects badly - not only on the Labour Party - but on the entire Parliament."

Dr Smith has handed to the police details of another new allegation against Mr Field.

National is set to continue its attacks on Labour about the Field saga next week, although Labour looks to have been given some breathing space by the police inquiry.

Labour keeps Mr Field's crucial vote while he is on leave, and it also has the potential to deflect questions by referring to the inquiry which is under way.


From the crimes act

* Every MP is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years who corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his capacity as an MP.

* Everyone is liable for imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any MP in respect of any act or omission by him in his capacity as an MP.

* No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against this section without the leave of a Judge of the High Court. Notice of the intention to apply for such leave shall be given to the person whom it is intended to prosecute and he shall have the opportunity of being heard against the application.