Chairman Ignored Mr Hanan’s Call

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 1

Chairman Ignored Mr Hanan’s Call

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 2.

Loud calls from the Minister of Maori Affairs, (Mr Hanan) in an effort to be given permission to speak were ignored by the Acting-Chairman of Committees, Mr J. H. George (Govt., Central Otago), in Parliament this afternoon.

Mr Hanan appeared to wish to defend himself further against Opposition attacks on the speech he made at the reception to the Springbok Rugby team at Gisborne last Wednesday. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) was sitting next to Mr George when Mr George ignored Mr Hanan’s attempts to get the call and ended the debate for the day.

Earlier Mr N. E. Kirk (Opp., Lyttelton) had threatened the Opposition would keep the House sitting beyond its normal time unless it received “a far more satisfactory explanation” for the words used by Mr Hanan. Mr Hanan, at the reception when he referred to criticism of the tour, said that in New Zealand minorities had some peculiar ideas. “You are bound to have this sort of thing in a democracy. It is the same thing as a dog having fleas.” Mr Kirk today repeated demands for Mr Hanan to apologise for making the remarks and wanted to know if the Government would apologise in the event of Mr Hanan refusing to do so. Mr Hanan said the proposal to boycott distinguished Rugby visitors could do considerable damage to New Zealand overseas. Many members of the Labour Party had declared themselves in favour of a boycott. “We can understand their resentment against me and

the welcome at Gisborne,” he said. He said emotional matters such as this one could lead to hard things being said. Mr N. V. Douglas (Opp., Auckland Central) demanded to know what Mr Marshall thought of the speech. “Does he think it was indiscreet?" Mr H. Lapwood (Govt.,

Rotorua): You’ve been a flea on the back of the workers. Mr Douglas: I’ve never sponged off anyone in my life. Can the member for Rotorua say that? Government voices: Of course he can. Mr Douglas said Mr Hanan should apologise. Mr W. A. Sheat (Govt., Egmont): You've insulted more people in your day than all of us together. Mrs E. Tombleson (Govt., Gisborne) said the Labour Party was trying to make political capital out of a headline. Members of the Opposion should apologise to the Gisborne Maoris. Mr Kirk said Mr Hanan had" used terms more associated with a cow-yard than with his ministerial position. “We don’t want to upset travelling arrangements, but we want a more satisfactory explanation than we have had,” he said.

“Suited Audience” If he thought Mr Hanan really meant what he said, Mr Marshall said he would have taken the attitude of the Opposition. “I think Mrs Tombleson put her finger on the situation when she referred to the atmosphere in which it was made. It would have suited the audience to which he was speaking and no-one took exception to it,” Mr Marshall said. “I don’t think Mr Douglas is a flea and Mr Kirk is' even less of one.” Sir Eruera Tirikatene (Opp., Southern Maori) said the mana of the Minister of Maori Affairs had not attracted more prestige through the statement “I think it is one mistake standing against his name for ever,” he added. “I agree with the deputy-Leader of the Government—a happy dog will waggle its tail but if a dog is unhappy, and sick, it will waggle its dry tongue as it heads for the last roundup.”