Opposition In The Chair

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32385, 26 August 1970, Page 26

Opposition In The Chair

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 25. A Parliamentary select committee today held its hearing in Parliament Buildings with an Opposition member as chairman. The Fishing Industry Committee of which the Under-Secretary of Agriculture (Mr Dick) is chairman, began its hearings today at 11280 a.m. more than a quarter of an hour late, with only three members present: Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., Tlmaru), Mr G. Christie (Lab., Napier) and Mr S. A. Whitehead (Lab., Nelson). After some preliminary discussion, Mr Whitehead took the chair, and the committee hearing began with Its lopsided political representation. Five minutes later the

Chief Government Whip (Mr H. R. Lapwood) arrived, and not long afterwards the Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Mr McCready) also took his place. But the hearing continued with Mr Whitehead in the chair. Opposition members have been critical in Parliament recently of Government members’ attitudes to committee work. Mr R. J. Tizard (Lab., Pakuranga) has a notice of motion on the Order Paper reading: “That this House deplores the attitude of Government members towards the work of Parliamentary select committees which has been emphasised by the adjournment of the Public Expenditure Committee’s hearings on August 19, when the Government failed to maintain or obtain its majority.”