Chathams Airfield ‘Neglected’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31136, 12 August 1966, Page 14

Chathams Airfield ‘Neglected’

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 11. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) recorded his “extreme displeasure” tonight over what he claimed was the Government’s neglect of fire safety and the Chatham Islands airfield by moving that the estimates of the Internal Affairs Department be reduced by £5.

During debate on the department’s estimates, Opposition speakers accused the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) of inactivity. Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opp., Nelson) said the country had lost confidence in the Minister.

Mr Kirk said: “I intend to move, by way of reducing the vote of £3,170,000 by £5, our extreme displeasure of this extreme neglect of fire safety and the inadequacy of the Government over the Chatham Islands airfield.” He said the vote for the Chatham Islands was down £lOOO on last year and it was clear there was no provision for the airfield this year. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) said he hoped the Opposition was not pinning its faith on the private member’s bill introduced by Mr J. Mathieson (Opp., Avon). “It is defective in many ways,” Mr Seath said.

Mr Seath said there was at present “very adequate opportunity for local authorities to carry out fire safety.” He preferred to rely on the good judgment of people in the

Municipal Association, the Counties’ Association, the Fire Underwriters’ Association and the Fire Service Council, rather than the Opposition. A division was called on Mr Kirk’s amendment and it was defeated by 39 votes to 32.