P.M. criticised on grant

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 18

P.M. criticised on grant

It was merely a matter of opinion whether an overseas study of race relations was relevant to a Public Trust lawyer or not, said the secretary of the Canterbury Maori Executive Committee (Mr B. N. Smith) yesterday.

He was commenting on remarks by the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) expressing the opinion that such a study was not relevant to the future duties of Mr A. F. Orme, a legal officer with the

Public Trust Office in Christchurch. Mr Orme had been refused Government financial assistance while overseas under the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Award. Mr Smith said the Government should in this. United Nations Race Relations Year, be encouraging, not discouraging, the study. “Let us hope that the Prime Minister is open to the spirit of the year in particular and that he will reconsider the matter.”

A study of race relations was just as relevant to Mr Orme, whose job required him to deal with Maori and Pakeha, as it was for the

Prime Minister, said Mr Smith.

“Is there a taxpayer in New Zealand, including the Prime Minister, who would deny race relations a role of public importance? If Mr Orme does not make his study now, someone else will later and perhaps from another Government office,” he said. “Surprised, dismayed" The Prime Minister and the State Services Commission are being “niggardly and short-sighted” in their attitude towards Mr Orme. This contention was given last evening by the chairman of the Christchurch branch of the Citizens’ Association for Racial Equality (the Rev?. J. S. Murray). "One can only be surprised and dismayed at the reply of the Prime Minister outlining the reasons for not granting leave with full pay to Mr Orme.

“If, as was quoted, the matter rests on whether ‘value would accrue to the Crown’ in the sense of the Government and its agencies, it would seem perfectly clear that Mr Orme, by his study of race relations overseas, would without doubt fulfil this requirement and bring benefit to the Government and to the whole of the community as well,” he said. If Mr Orme was considered worthy of a Winston Churchill award, ons could only wonder why the Government had taken refuge in rales and regulations and not seized the opportunity to send such a man abroad, said Mr Murray. “I am sure the rest of the community would support the Government if it were to make a more generous and understanding decision.”