Qui Nhon Supply Problems

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 3

Qui Nhon Supply Problems

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 31. New Zealand’s surgical team at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, was experiencing difficulties in obtaining certain medical supplies from the Americans but had recently received a “very considerable amount” of urgently needed medical supplies from New Zealand, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said in Parliament today. Replying to Mr G. A. Walsh (Govt., Tauranga) he said the Americans were experiencing logistic supply problems. Items sent from New Zealand recently had overcome the immediate problems, said Mr Holyoake. Mr N. V. Douglas (Opp., Auckland Central) asked if it was possible for our doctors and nurses at Qui Nhon to borrow supplies from the United States Military Hospital nearby. “This procedure is followlowed and the United States Air Force does supply them with some items,” Mr Holyoake said.

But the New Zealand team felt—and he supported it that it should not need to borrow hand-to-mouth. No Report Yet The Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) said the investigations into the affairs of Holeproof (N.Z.), Ltd., were extensive and complicated and the Government’s inspector was not yet in a position to make a report. The investigation was ordered in June as a result of an Australian report on the activities of Factors, Ltd. Doctors Needed An additional 38 doctors were needed in rural and semi-rural areas of New Zealand, said the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton). He was reply in; on behalf of the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) to Mr N. J. King (Opp, Waitemata). The Minister said that in comparison with virtually all other countries there was little or no indication of a shortage of general practitioners in New Zealand. The problem was distribution rather than numbers. An additional 38 doctors were needed in rural and semirural areas, where there were at present 402 doctors. In a supplementary question, Mr King asked what act-

ion was being taken to encourage doctors to practice in areas needing them. Mr Shelton said that the matter was being examined. Premature Report The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said a report in the Wellington “Evening Post” today constituted evidence of a breach of Parliamentary privilege. The report concerned a written answer from the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) to Mr R. L. Bailey (Opp, Heretaunga) on the retail prices of various meats. Mr Kirk said the newspaper was printed about 2.15 p.m. with a full report of the answer to Mr Bailey’s question, before Mr Bailey had received a copy of the answer from Mr Marshall. Mr' Bailey had read the answer to his question in the newspaper. The Speaker (Sir Ronald Algie) said he found there was no deliberate fault on the part of anybody. Although there had been a technical breach of privilege there had been no bad faith nor any harm done. He ruled that there was a prima facie breach of privilege. Mr Kirk moved that the case should go before the Privileges Committee but the resolution was defeated.

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) said the answer was then sent to the Clerk of the House this morning. A copy of the answer was sent to Mr Bailey at 11 a.m. and at the same time a copy was given to the newspapers, following the usual custom. It appeared that the messenger did not pick up the copy for about three hours and it was delivered to Mr Bailey about 4 p.m. Office Open The Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) said the new Trade Commissioner’s office in Brisbane opened for business today. The office is the fourth in Australia, the others being in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. The new commissioner is Mr A. F. Jacobsen, formerly Assistant Trade Commissioner in Sydney. “The opening of a trade post specifically to cover Queensland is part of the Government’s effort to improve the facilities available to New Zealand exporters who wish to explore markets in Australia,” said Mr Marshall. “It is a logical step following the introduction of the New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and the consequent quickening of interest in export opportunities in Australia.” i