Later he starred in the Barry Crump-style yarns of
Letter to Blanchy, and as a alarmingly straight-talking teacher in
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. Writer and humorist Tom Scott said he had been bracing himself for McPhail s death, given his recent health problems. He said McPhail was the most important of the Christchurch trio that included Gadsby and A.K.Grant, who contributed so much to New Zealand television and theatre. “He was also a terrific stage actor and was fantastic in
Seven Periods of Mr Gormsby. He saved the show and the kids loved him. “He was such a sweet man, a very kind man. He could be the funniest man you could ever meet in your life.”
With the Government facing a serious backlash over its public sector wage freeze policy, that sound you hear could be the ghost of Rob Muldoon chuckling.
As Finance Minister in the Holyoake Government (1960-72) and later as Prime Minister (1975-81), he knew how tempting - and difficult - pay freezes could be.
That didn t stop him using them, but not even he would have contemplated what the current Labour Government has announced.
Targeting only public servants earning over NZ$60,000, for three years and with no apparent provision for inflation or cost of living increases, would have been anathema to Muldoon.
Alexander Gillespie
Opinion - With the government facing a serious backlash over its public sector wage freeze policy, that sound you hear could be the ghost of Rob Muldoon chuckling.
Rob Muldoon knew how tempting - and difficult - pay freezes could be, Alexander Gillespie writes.
Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library
As finance minister in the Holyoake government (1960-72) and later as prime minister (1975-81), he knew how tempting - and difficult - pay freezes could be.
That did not stop him using them, but not even he would have contemplated what the current Labour government has announced.
Targeting only public servants earning over $60,000, for three years and with no apparent provision for inflation or cost of living increases, would have been anathema to Muldoon.