PM heckled over Allan Hubbard affair
Prime Minister John Key was called a liar when he fronted a meeting in Timaru last night packed with vocal Allan Hubbard supporters.
Prime Minister John Key was called a liar when he fronted a meeting in Timaru last night packed with vocal Allan Hubbard supporters.
The Government placed Mr Hubbard, his wife, Jean, and related companies into statutory management last year.
Mr Hubbard headed the Timaru-based South Canterbury Finance which the Government spent $1.7 billion bailing-out when it failed.
"When I see an old man get rolled and robbed and accused of fraud when in fact he's one of the most honourable men in the country I am concerned," Radio New Zealand reported one man saying at the 500-strong meeting.
Mr Key said South Canterbury Finance had been going to collapse for a long time.
"The entire time I've been Prime Minister I've had Treasury in my office week after week, month after month telling me South Canterbury Finance was going bankrupt."
He said when the Serious Fraud Office got involved he had to be dispassionate.
Someone in the audience yelled the Prime Minister was lying.
"I like Allan Hubbard. I do not get up in the morning trying to find people to go after," Mr Key said.
Some at the meeting said Hubbard supporters were crazy and were not facing the facts.
A woman told Radio New Zealand; "John Key's a w..ker".
Mr Key said he accepted people had different views.
NBR staff and NZPA
Thu, 31 Mar 2011
Thu, 31 Mar 2011
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PM heckled over Allan Hubbard affair
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