Mr Kirk welcome at Blenheim

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 10

Mr Kirk welcome at Blenheim

(From Our Own Reporter)

BLENHEIM, November 2.

Though there were some interjections when the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) gave an election address at Blenheim tonight the great majority of the audience was loud and vocal in support of Mr Kirk and his policies.

St Patrick’s Hall was well-filled with a number of people standing, but the total audience would not have exceeded 400. Mr Kirk made short work of the few interjectors.

Speaking before Mr Kirk, the member for Marlborough (Mr I. J. Brooks) said that the main concern in his district was the failure of the Government to implement its plans for regional development.

Mr Kirk said that this would be one of the first commitments of a Labour Government. It would be essential that freight rates be reduced in order to give places like Blenheim a chance

to grow. Blenheim, he said, was only 20 minutes by air from Wellington but might as well be 200 miles away. Mr Kirk attacked the Government’s financial policies. The 25 per cent rise in prices in the last three years, he said, had been developed by the Government’s action in increasing the price of goods and services. Once this had happened why should not there be an increase in wages. In the years of the Labour Government the increase had been less than 3 per cent.

Interjector: There’s a lot of difference in the position then and now. Mr Kirk: The difference is in the way the Government handled it. We had inflation in New Zealand because of Government policy. We cannot afford that kind of Government. FOREIGN INTERESTS Mr Kirk said that the Government constantly talked about its concern for people, but the hospital which could deal with this problem was de-registered. Mr Kirk was referring to the Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs. Mr Kirk said that the resources of New Zealand should not be sold off to foreign interests. Interjector: The National Party is looking after this. Mr Kirk: Over 400 foreign take-overs. Does this look like action? This is a spectator Government. Mr Kirk said that Labour was concerned to see that living standards were down. Living standards were made of many things and were not strictly to be calculated by economic means. It was possible for a millionaire to have very low living standards.

MINISTRY OF WORKS Speaking about conservation, Mr Kirk said that the worst vandal in New Zealand had been the Government.

“The Ministry of Works has actually caused more damage than any vandal,” he said. “The Government has defied town planning regulation and every other kind of authority designed to produce public order. Everyone has to conform but the Government. We will make sure that this state of affairs does not continue.”

Mr Kirk made a strong defence of his suggestion that the police be given the power to take the motor-cycles from offending “bikie” gangs. “Today the Prime Minister said that this would be introducing tyranny into the country,” said Mr Kirk. “Let him stand on the ‘bikies’ side. Let him get with them." Interjector: “He wouldn’t even make a pillion passenger.?’ POWERS OF SEIZING Mr Kirk: I don’t know about that. He’s ridden on the backs of the people for Jong enough. He dwelt on official powers of seizing. He said that every ranger in the exercise of his duty within the district for which he was appointed, might seize all nets, traps, firearms, ammunition, boats, vehicles, engines, instruments, appliances or devices which were being used in breach of the Wildlife Act of 1953,

“A fisherman using the wrong gear or in the wrong season, or a sportsman shooting a duck in the water can have his vehicle seized,” said Mr Kirk. Forfeiture is determined by a magistrate. “Under the Exchange Control Regulations or the Reserve Bank Regulations any currency which is the subject of an offence can be seized. That is, a traveller ; taking $2O notes out of the I country, or exceeding the exIchange allocation approved Iby the Reserve Bank can have the currency seized. A magistrate determines con- : fi scat ion j

“A motor vehicle involved in an offence against the revenue can be seized by the Customs. That is, if the vehicle has been entered on a wrong baggage sufferance declaration, wrongly entered through customs, or has paid the wrong duty rate, it is liable to seizure. The customs officer who has cause to suspect the offence serves a a notice of seizure. “The defendant has the right to contest the seizure but the final decision is made by a magistrate. The Customs Department has the power to seize any vehicle associated with the breach of the excise regulations. “A boat landing uncustomed goods is liable to seizure. A vehicle carrying uncustomed goods may also be seized. Goods imported without a licence or undeclared goods in baggage can all be seized in the Customs. “If a disturber of the peace sells apples by the roadside the authorities can go into his house and search it. But if the offence is against the person there is no police power to seize the vehicle involved in the offence.' These gangs advertised for a month they were going to Alexandra to make trouble. Why not take their bikes?”