P.M. Likes His Work

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30452, 28 May 1964, Page 20

P.M. Likes His Work

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 27. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) is in excellent health and has no immediate plans to enlarge the Cabinet. Mr Holyoake commented today on reports that ministers were overloaded with work and that he might kill himself “if he did not slacken off a bit.” This was the theme of remarks in Christchurch last evening by the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) and in Auckland today by the chairman of the Auckland division of the National Party (Mr W. J. Court). “Stimulating”

“I find my work is very stimulating,” said Mr Holyoake. The Prime Minister said members of the Cabinet had carried extra work because of the absence of the DeputyPrime Minister (Mr Marshall) overseas for three months recovering from a heart attack and the absence of the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) for a month recovering from an operation.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) was also absent for a time replacing Mr Marshall.

The Prime Minister said Mr Marshall was due back on Friday and had reported that he had made an excellent recovery. Mr Shelton was due back next week.

“I am waiting for things to settle down before I go any further into the question of enlarging the. Cabinet,” said Mr Holyoake. A call for a major overhaul of Parliamentary procedure to ease pressure on ministers and members was made yesterday by Mr Court.

The health of ministers and members and the trying conditions under which they had to work was perhaps the major problem facing the National Party, he said in his annual report to the division. “They are tied to a system they have inherited,” he said. “I firmly believe the serious illnesses of our ministers and members recently only serves to highlight the very urgent necessity of a major overhaul of Parliamentary procedure.” Those elected should be able to live the normal life of any business executive, with ample freedom at the week-ends, normal daily working hours, “enabling them to enjoy a normal family life and safeguard their health.” “I know the difficulties of putting this into effect, but we are living in a civilised age and we have no right to thrust so much work on our ministers, and particularly our Prime Minister, so that they and their wives cannot live a normal family life. “I could not maintain the pace forced on them and I do not know anyone who can do it indefinitely,” he said.

Australia is entering the “cultural age,” erasing an overseas impression of a huge sunburnt country full of kangaroos, boomerangs, good athletes and little else.— (Reuter).