Comment From The Capital

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 10

Comment From The Capital

(From Our Parliamentary Renorter)

WELLINGTON, August 10. .If Parliament rises early in September, it is not unlikely that the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) will be present at the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on September 16. He has made no public reference to this possibility, and is not likely to do so before the rising of Parliament is decided.

Among the reasons for his being present, it is understood, are the discussions on Antarctica and the Middle East. In Washington about the same time will be the ANZUS meeting, at which Mr Nash would be the New Zealand representatlxp to confer with Mr Dulles and the Australian' Minister of External Affairs (Mr Casey). The reason Mr Nash gave for hoping that the present session would end early next month was that this would give the Minister of Finance (Mr Nordmeyer) a chance to do some work and get things in order before ‘going to Montreal for the Commonwealth economic conference beginning on September 15. It is assumed that if the House was still sitting on that date (as* Opposition tactics could ensure) Mr Nash would not consider leaving the country. Mr Nash’s interest in the Antarctic was illustrated earlier this year when he expressed his wish to go there this summer. His reason was not a personal one. With the political heads of Australia and the United Kingdom, he does not want to see the Antarctic become a testing-area for a war of nerves between Soviet Russia and the United States.

When Mr Casey visits New Zealand, as he is likely to do within the next five weeks on his way to New York and Washington, he and Mr Nash will certainly discuss two things— Antarctica and the inter-relation of Australian and New Zealand forces in the event of a South Pacific or South-east Asian crisis. Tension In House Tension is mounting in the House of Representatives. So far it has not shown itself in outbursts on the floor of the House, but there are many indications that the Speaker (Mr will be severely tested before the session ends. Mr Macfarlane has not been well supported by his own party in the matter of House discipline, and the Opposition continues to take full advantage of this. As a result, the noise-level is considerably higher than in recent years. This docs not happen when thw House is in committee, for the Chairman of Committees (Mr R A. Keeling) has taken a stronger and more positive line. Strategy One of the main causes of House tension is that the Opposition is never quite sure what Mr Nash will do. As Prime Minister, lie has the advantage of holding most of the cards, and experience has given him a ready knowledge of the possible moves. This is why what seemed to be a promising Opposition move last week ended in embarrassment and defeat.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake) complained about the number of changes made in the list of Estimates. He mented that were it not for the Estimates, there was only one bill ready for debate. In spite of Mr Nash’s assurance that “there will be no shortage of business during the week.” the Opposition appeared to be ready to dispose of the Estimates in short order, merely to confound the Government.

The Estimates went through with remarkable speed—nine categories of them—of a total value of £15,426,320, in less than four hours. The previous Tuesday the House had taken until nearly midnight to pass three groups. At 9 p.m. it appeared that the Opposition’s suggestion was coming true, and that the House would have to discuss but the Gift Duties Bill. That was when Mr Nash brought down four bills. The net result of the day’s work was that a discomfited Opposition had let through a record total of Estimates without serious debate and the House was so much nearer Mr Nash’s goal—an early end to the session. Sports And Schools The educational authorities are losing no time in seeking Government support for the views of some educationists that schoolchildren should not attend sports events in school time. This follows a. direction in many schools that bovs and girls could not get time off to travel to New Zealand and provincial championships in athletics, swimming and lifesaving. Some Government members have spoken strongly against the schools’ decision. “If a boy or girl is good enough to represent his or her school, district or province, then obstacles should not

be placed in the way,” said one. It is understood that the memorandum on the subject which has been circulated to some members specifically mentions swimming and surf life-saving championships, and has a reference to the fact that both these carnivals were held in Christchurch last year. The attendances at both were affected by the attitude of some schools. The intention of the memorandum is apparently to test Government opinion with a view to preventing ail New Zealand schoolchildren from attending sports carnivals of any kind in school time. It is unlikely that the present Minister of Education (Mr Skogland) will accede to this requ?st. His predecessor, Mr R. M. Algie, left the decision to individual .schools. Interjection Outside Government members are incensed at one interjection by a member of the Opposition which occurred outside the Parliamentary chamber. It was during a function in honour of the visiting diplomat, Mr Pote Sarasin, Secretary-General of S.E.A.T.O. After a speech of welcome, Mr Nash turned to present Mr Sarasin with a memento —a cigarette box carved in Maori style, with paua inlay. The interjection was heard quite clearly by most persons in the room. It syas: “Two-and-eleven at Woolworths.” Government members said that presents to distinguished visitors were expensive. The Maori carving idea did not originate with the Labour Government, and such things were standard gift material in the time of Sir Sidney Holland Mr Holyoake.