Pledge By Mr Holyoake To Fill Overseas Posts

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 10

Pledge By Mr Holyoake To Fill Overseas Posts

(New Zealand. Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, May 13. A pledge to fill the vacant High Commissioners’ positions in London, Washington and New Delhi within one month of the National Party assuming office, and providing the posts were then still vacant, was given last night by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake). Leaving vacant the three key positions was one of the gravest disservices the Labour Party had done New Zealand, Mr Holyoake told a 500-strong heckler-free audience in the Scottish Hall. “Evidently Mr Nash believes that all virtue and all wisdom in New* Zealand exists only in the top layer of the Labour Party, and is not able to consider any other candidates for these high offices.’’ “It is a shocking situation. The bungling and inepititudc that has gone on since Labour assumed office has been simply amazing.” The London High Commissioner’s post was our highest overseas appointment, he said. The vacancy had caused our prestige to suffer considerably “as Mr Skinner and other New Zealanders who have been in London could testify.” Mr Holyoake continued: “Bad as this case is, that of the Washington post is even worse,” he added.

Sir Leslie Munro was an extremely able New Zealand representative, he said. “He was president of the United Nations Security Council in his last year —before he was dismissed.” The New Delhi post was New Zealand’s main one in Asia. “Formerly we had a Trade Commissioner in Bombay. With the decision to move to New Delhi it was decided to elevate the office to that of a High Commissioner. “Was diplomatic wisdom used here?” he asked. “No. Once again an acting High Commissioner was appointed and the main office was left vacant. “We spend a great deal of money on our posts abroad. How can we hope to have much influence there when three of our highest posts go by default? "AU the skite about how we influence overseas affairs—it is just a lot of stuff and nonsense. “It would seem that this state of affairs will continue as long— I wish I could say or just as short—as the Labour Party is in power.”