Members clash over pairs

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32458, 19 November 1970, Page 1

Members clash over pairs

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. The Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) today accepted an Opposition challenge to produce an example of “pairs” being granted members of the 1957-60 Labour Government on “fliirisy” excuses.

The challenge was made yesterday by the Chief Opposition Whip, Mr H. L. May. It came after considerable argument between the National and Labour parties resulting from an Opposition threat to examine the possible withdrawal of pairs during debate on the Local Authorities (Petroleum Tax). BilL Mr Muldoon said today that on July 19, 1960, the then Minister of Works (Mr Watt) and the Labour member for Northern Maori (Mr T. P. Paikea) were both said to be ill, and pairs were made available to them by the National Party opposition. (Parliamentary records show that both Mr Watt and Mr Paikea voted in divisions on July 19, 1960. But Mr Muldoon maintained that pairs had been made available to the two Government members, even if they were not used.) Mr Muldoon said that in spite of the alleged “illness” of the two Labour members, the member for Northern Maori had been photographed by the “Auckland Star” attending a public function on the day for which pairs were sought, and Mr Watt had been photographed by the “Evening Post” on the same day—he was photographed examining a proposed Cook Strait project.

About the pairs argument in general, Mr Muldoon commented: “The only thing this nonsense reveals is that Mr Kirk does not expect to be Prime Minister in the near future.” He said no-one who wished to be Prime Minister would destroy the established system of pairs, which was the only basis on which government could function. Mr May said later today that in spite of Mr Muldoon’s assertions about pairs being made available to Mr Watt and Mr Paikea on July 19, 1960, “my records show that we made no such application.” Mr May, who was Government whip during 1957-60, pointed out that both Mr Watt and Mr Paikea were in the House on the date mentioned by Mr Muldoon, and that in all the divisions recorded on that day, the Journal of House Proceedings did not record any pairs having been granted. Government and Opposition whips had agreed that the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) should be granted a permanent pair while convalescing from his recent prostate operation, the junior Opposition whip, Mr R. L. Bailey, said today. Mr Bailey said Sir Keith Holyoake would be permanently paired with Mrs T. W. M. Tirikatene-Sullivan (Lab., Southern Maori), who has recently given birth to a daughter.