P.M.’s Claims ‘Nonsense’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30940, 22 December 1965, Page 3

P.M.’s Claims ‘Nonsense’

(N.Z.PA. Reuter—Copyright) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. “The claims made by Mr Holyoake in his statement on Vietnam policy are utter nonsense and would be scarcely worth a reply were it not for the despicable tactics he has employed,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk).

“These tactics are more closely associated with the foreign ideology he says he is opposed to than a person occupying the important office of Prime Minister in a democracy,” said Mr Kirk. “His statement is strongly resented, as it would be by every fair-minded citizen and serves only to show the length to which the Government is prepared to go in an effort to silence its critics. “While 1 appreciate that the Prime Minister must be most anxious to divert public attention from his Government’s mishandling of our

country’s economy, I do not propose to allow him to put words in my mouth uncontested. “In my reply to the original question I was at some pains to point out that events in Vietnam were difficult to forecast and that any decision in respect of Vietnam would have to be taken in the light of circumstances existing at the time, which is something any responsible government, even Mr Hoiyoake’s, might be expected to do. “I do hope that for the sake of democracy in this country the Government will go no further along the road to Macarthyism.”