Labour To Choose Spokesmen Soon

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30937, 18 December 1965, Page 16

Labour To Choose Spokesmen Soon

(From Our Own Reporter; WELLINGTON, December 17. The Parliamentary Labour Party will soon designate specific spokesmen for particular aspects of public affairs.

The party will overhaul and intensify its system of specialist caucus committees.

Whether it will go further is doubtful. Since the change in leadership, some politicians in the party have revived suggestions for the election of a formal “shadow cabinet.”

This would involve a caucus election of 16 or so “cabinet members” early next year and the allocation of “shadow” portfolios by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk). Normally, Cabinet members are elected only after the party has won a General Election. Mr Kirk himself is reported to be displaying little enthusiasm for the idea and to have no intention to raise it. Supporters of the proposal say it would Lend the Parliamentary Labour Party more' immediate “identity” something Mr Kirk is eager to establish; Ease Mr Kirk's agonies in choosing those to occupy the front bench in Parliament and allow him to distribute a measure of token reward for those who backed him in his move to the top. Provide a clear signal of Ministerial prospects or lack of them—for those whose candidature at the November General Elections may be in doubt. Mr Kirk and those who dislike the proposal are said to feel that stronger counterconsiderations apply: In Britain, with a bigger Parliament, shadow cabinets are imperative. In New Zealand, neither party in the past has found need for them in opposition.

The move could split the Caucus. Both of the former Leaders of the Opposition. Sir Walter Nash and Mr Nordmeyer, would probably have strong objections. Labour’s main objective is to win as many seats as possible next November. Electors and party followers who fancy that their local candidate has at least a chance of becoming a Cabinet minister could be discouraged by clear choices in an existing shadow cabinet. British Model The shape of the Cabinet which Labour might envisage once in office has yet to be decided. Some members, including the former party president, Dr. A. M. Finlay (Waitakere),

are believed to be keen to adopt the British Labour practice of having a minister in charge of economics and planning as well as the conventional Minister of Finance.

Labour already has a few specialist spokesmen in Parliament. Outside the House, it has rarely employed them, leaving the burden to the party president and Leader of the Opposition, now one and the same.

The only exception of note has been the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr Watt) in his own fields of works and electricity. Mr Kirk plans to encourage his deputy’s flair for publicity. The next Opposition caucus will be about the first week in February, for two days. Mr Kirk will fix the date next week.

Although policy drafts will be the preoccupation the question of a cabinet is expected to be aired then. AUCKLAND SUPPORT

Support for a shadow cabinet is expected from Auckland members, especially from Mr C. J. Moyle (Manukau), who, as editor of the Auckland Labour paper, “The Statesman,” campaigned a year ago for the naming of “a team for 1966.” He did not, however, suggest a caucus election.

An article he published said the front benches should not be the final political resting place for senior members, either on the basis of past performance or length of service. Miss M. B. Howard (Sydenham) dismissed the idea as one from “young smart Alecs in Auckland.” Mr Nordmeyer hedged, but took no action. He said he believed the time would come when the party would decide that a shadow cabinet outweighed its disadvantages. When it did,, he would reallocate seats. Seating, he said, was not vital. MEMBERS’ ATTITUDE Younger members of the Parliamentary party, no les? than the “old guard” which occupies them, are sensitive over the front-bench issue. Few of the best Labour spokesmen in the House are on the front benches. Until now, Mr Kirk himself, has been the best example of that.

If only to make way for him, one of the other frontbenchers, each of them mem bers of the 1957-60 Nash Ministry, must now take a back bench.