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News and Current Affairs.
Main Stories:
It was crunch day at the Auckland Hospital Board today as chairman Sir Frank Rutter steered a course through the highly critical findings of the Mason Report on Psychiatric Services. The Prime Minister has made it clear he expects some heads to roll and this afternoon General Manager Ian Campbell took early retirement. Though Campbell has gone there has been silence form the other two board members harshly criticised by the Mason committee. A report on developments. Speakers: Sir Frank Rutter (Chairman, Auckland Hospital Board), Dr Peter Davis (Member, Auckland Hospital Board), Dr Peter McGeorge (Regional Director Pysch Services), David Caygill (Health Minister).
Canterbury and North Otago farmers are facing their worst drought this century and are calling for grants from the Government to feed stock and cash handouts for farmers who want to leave the land. A report about the problems facing farmers in both regions. Speakers: David Penno (Farmer), Bill Langrell (Farmer), Mark Laming (Farmer), Don McFarlane (South Canterbury Federated Farmers), John McKenzie (Hakataramea Farmer).
In Brazil the march of civilisation is taking its toll on the Amazon rainforest. 20% of it has been destroyed in the last ten years, and as this report shows, it’s not just Brazil’s problem.
Other Stories:
Tight security surrounds conventions of two opposing gangs, the Mongrel Mob and the Black Power, in Wellington this weekend. Police and Maori Wardens are keeping a close watch on each of the hui, in particular the large Mob gathering being held in two railways sheds.
Ministry of Transport officers, as well as Police, are out in force across the country tonight as the Labour weekend holiday begins. Roving checkpoints are being set up to battle drink-driving.
Former cervical cancer patients at National Women’s Hospital are claiming damages totalling more than eleven million dollars.
State Owned Enterprises Minister Richard Prebble says he wants to remain in charge of the Governments asset sales programme. A new cabinet code of practice on asset sales could see Prebble’s responsibilities for some sales, like Air New Zealand, removed. Moves toward the code follow the Prime Minister's admission that the sales process has been badly handled.
The Prime Minister has called for patience and tolerance in resolving critical race relations issues. He has told a meeting that a lot of nonsense and unnecessary fear has been generated around the hearings of the Waitangi Tribunal considering Maori land claims. He has stressed no private land will be retuned to Maori. Speaker: David Lange (Prime Minister).
Fiji’s draft constitution came under scrutiny in Wellington today when the country’s deposed Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra met New Zealand’s Justice and Foreign Affairs Ministers.
The Health Department is launching an explicit campaign to warn people of the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Speaker: Karen Poutasi (Health Department).
Air New Zealand and Ansett are to tighten checks on the wing flaps of their Boeing 767s, following a warning from United States Aviation Authorities.
In a new move against the IRA the British Government is proposing a law in which a suspects silence under Police questioning could be construed as evidence of guilt. It is also considering making candidates for election in Northern Ireland take an oath renouncing violence. These plans come a day after the Government banned television and radio interviews with the IRA and ten other militant groups.
Nicaragua has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Joan approaches. Meanwhile, relief workers in Columbia fear outbreaks of disease in areas flooded by the hurricane.
Deposed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is expected to be indicted on criminal charges in the United States tomorrow.
De-icing machines have been flown to Alaska to help save three trapped whales.
On the share market the Barclays Index closed up 24 points.
A severe and spectacular thunder and lighting strike hit Wellington last night.