COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL INFORMED DEBATES WILL END 1969 PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 14

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL INFORMED DEBATES WILL END 1969 PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

(from our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, September 21—Unless there is an unforeseen spate of last-minute legislation, the Parliamentary session which is planned to end in five weeks will do so in an almost unparalleled atmosphere of dignity and informative debate.

Replacing the almost habitual last-minute spate of hasty legislation, with its side effects of frayed tempers and raised voices, it is planned to have a series of special debates on subjects of general importance and interest. Most of these have been requested by the Opposition—but the information they produce will come mainly from Ministers whose information is up-to-date and international.

On Friday morning the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) mentioned as a probability the holding of special debates on the National Development Conference and on the White Paper on Crime. He also commented on the swift passage of business, and brought up again the possibility of a week’s recess—subject, presumably, to the approval of the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), on his return from the United States and Canada.

Other special debates are likely to be on subjects such as the Vietnam war aifd its Implications; the South-East Asian situation generally, with special reference to MalaysiaSingapore; problems of containerisation; transport problems generally, with an emphasis on rall-versus-road; external trade; and finance (with an accent on external borrowing).

Brief Debates It is likely that all or most of these subjects will be made the topics for individual debates which will probably start at 7.30 p.m. and end at 10.30 on the same night or run into the following day. With the exception of the first two speeches, debating time may be limited in the interests of clarity.

It is probable that for some time the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) has had in mind the tidying-up of the usual end-of-session discomfort When, just before his departure overseas, he discounted the possibility of another short recess, he did so with the knowledge that the session's work was well forward. Since then the number of measures before Select Committees (a determining factor in any decision for a recess) has shrunk almost to vanishing-point With the return of the Apiaries Bill and the Administration Bill to the House, the Lands and Agriculture Committee is out of work, and the Statutes Revision Committee has only one measure (the Contractors’ Liens Bill) before it

Only the Local Bills Committee, with eight measures to consider, seems to be carrying its usual mid-September load.

Trips—And Knowledge

The Ministerial visiting-sea-son, first forecast in these columns, is now in full spate. The Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon), completed his short trip to Australia last week, and is presumably to be up to date on such themes as air traffic over the Pacific and some aspects of container isation. The Minister of Labour (Mr Shand), will be back tonight from Australia, where he also looked into aspects of containerisation. Mr Holyoake is expected back on Friday from his, trip to the United States and Canada. The Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon), has just begun his yearly visit to the British Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Conference and the International Monetary Fund meeting. In the meantime, the work before the House has dwindled to a mere ten measures requiring second-read-ing debates, a few others to be committed, and some Opposition measures doomed to be debated at the convenience of the House. A formidable list of Estimates still has to be debated, but this will be reduced as soon as Parliament spends more than one day a week on this business. \lt is expected also that some more bills will be introduced —but their number is not expected to be great At least one such bill is likely following Mr Muldoon's return on October 11. The two debate subjects mentioned by Mr Marshall on Friday are fairly open ones. The National Development Conference arrangements offered no special privileges for Opposition members, but those who expressed an interest had every opportunity of keeping abreast of the proceedings.

Crime is a subject which must appeal to any candidate as a sound election plank. Here the local knowledge of members concerning special circumstances in their electorates may balance the accumulation of fact known to the Minister in charge of Police (Mr Allen), and other Government members.

Vietnam Undoubtedly the debate most eagerly awaited will be the one on Vietnam, and possibly on South-East Asia generally, after Mr Holyoake’s return from America.

All members will wish to hear what transpired between Mr Holyoake and the United States President (Mr Nixon). Though the emphasis so far has been on trade matters, and specifically on the importation into America of New Zealand primary produce, there is no doubt that the main New Zealand interest centres on the Vietnam conflict and the planned United States disengagement. Questions have already been asked—and answered—about a possible New Zealand withdrawal. It is understandable that Mr Holyoake would not care to press this issue while

talking with Mr Nixon. New Zealand’s commitment in Vietnam (two infantry companies, a field gun battery and an S.A.S. troop) comprises about 500 professional soldiers. The American disengagement may concern as many as 80,000 men at a time. Mr Nixon, however, may have discussed with Mr Holyoake the far wider question of South-East Asian defence. The oft-quoted remark: ‘There will be no more Vietnams” is capable of more than one interpretation. It is plain that for some time United States diplomats have been moving cautiously in the difficult atmosphere of- Thailand. Mr Holyoake may now have a clearer picture of what this means.

A closer but linked New Zealand commitment is that to Malaysia and Singapore. New Zealanders generally don’t know much about these small but wealthy States, each struggling with its own set of emergent problems. But we do have a frigate on what is still called the Far-East Station, a half-squadron of Bristol Freighters at Changi, and a training battalion—under strength—about to move from Terendak (in Malaysia) to Nee Soon (on Singapore Island). A debate on these developments, and particularly on the' special problems which are tormenting Malaysia, would be enlightening. So would a direct investigation of what caused the racial riots in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. There is a real need for New Zealanders to know the strength of the movement which is pushing this Commonwealth country towards Moslem domination and eventual linkage with the other Moslem State of Indonesia. Containers

Two other Ministers will be ready next week to speak authoritatively on a vastly different subject of interest—containerisation. It is understood that when Mr Gordon was in Australia recently, he was particularly interested in

the way the railways system was planning for containerisation. Mr Shand will naturally have been more concerned with the labour element in containerisation. The remarkable thing in a debate of this nature is that it will involve so many Ministers. Others directly concerned would be the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott), and the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton), whose department has already put out two informative brochures on container port operation. The closing weeks of the session may well be dominated by Mr Muldoon, who will be back from the world’s financial centres with a full report containing (it is forecast) a number of reassurances. He may well also have some important news which could affect the Government party’s chances at the polls. All this bolds the promise of a completely new sessional ending. It is also worth noting that, although they have been asked for by the Opposition, most of these debates contain unrivalled opportunities for senior Government speakers. It is hoped that the accent will be on information rather than on party politics, for the temptation to score debating points will be great.