John Kirk in the front line

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 16

John Kirk in the front line

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

Some members of Parliament blossom in opposition. This could well be the case with Mr N. J. Kirk (Lab., Sydenham), who, after a frustrating year on the highlypopulated back benches of the Labour Government, has made his own way into the front line of a fighting Opposition.

Norman John Kirk was elected to Parliament late in 1974, after the death of his father in August of that year. Today, aged 29, he has served the second apprenticeship of bis life. He was elected as secretary of the Opposition caucus for this term, his job being to keep the minutes, organise special caucus occasions, and be of assistance to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling). This position, which was a big step forward for him, means that he is also on the Labour Party executive. Also, he is a member of the Dominion executive of the National Society on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency.

John Kirk told me that his opportunities in opposition this year are greater than they were as a member of the Labour Government. “When you are a backbencher in a government you have to tread very lightly because Ministers have legislation going through, and they do not want you to cut across the path of that legislation.

“In Opposition your main job is to challenge the Government’s legislation going through, and the scope is virtually unlimited. Last year there were many new members who had two years start on me. They had learned to play the game . . John Kirk told me that he had arrived in Parliament at a difficult time. Other members, with two years experience, had “found their slot.” The whole caucus was moving towards an election. “We were battling for what was, after all, a limited time to speak. “Now you can see the same thing happening to the other side. There are going to be only 32 speeches—

that is unless an amendment is moved—so some 23 of their members will miss out. It is over to them to decide who misses. “I am sure that some National members, because they have been overlooked for a Budget speech, are thinking that somehow they have been judged inadequate. It is like All Black selection —you know, the test team and the Wednesday game team.” Mr Kirk places the cardiac unit and the Rangatira withdrawal as the two main local issues. “I did a lot of probing earlier on the cardiac unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital,” he said. “On the Rangatira, most of the Christchurch Labour members, particularly Bruce Barclay and myself, have been associated. A third issue, which looms in the Estimates, is the Ministry of Works cuts in the Christchurch southern motorway project. “Thesj issues have been sharply defined. With the Rangatira it is whether she will stay or go; with the heart unit is whether we shall have it or not.” Then there is John Kirk’s interest in aviation. “I have had an opportunity of becoming identified with that area, and I wish to continue it. I think that aviation is the key to our whole tourist industry. “If we do not foster aviation in this country, right frem the aero clubs through, we are going to be in the situation where we are going to be relying on some foreign airline to provide our links with the outside world.” This is why John Kirk has spoken out sb strongly about the travel tax—and with some immediate effect. “I think the travel tax and its consequences were an issue that was not thought through.” Mr Kirk said. “It is worth remembering that there were only two speakers against the travel tax in detail—myself and Jonathan

Hunt. Afterwards, the Prime Minister turned about and changed it the following day. so that what we wer* talking about was accommodated.” This related to the preference rates enjoyed by members of Air New Zealand staff, who are now to be taxed on what they pay, rather than on the full price of the ticket. “The next question is going to be: does this apply to anyone who by his employment has fare privileges?” Mr Kirk said. “There are others—members of tr*. /el agencies, members of Parliament, all sorts of business people—who receive overseas trips as a bonus Mr Kirk regards the Prime Minister’s decision as a feather in his cap. But there are other issues, he says. Will it apply to sporting teams? What about those who are having their one-in-a-lifetime retirement trip? Is it fair to penalise them? Is it fair to penalise a businessman who is going overseas only on business? “This legislation is very ill-conceived,” John Kirk said. “I think that if there was going to be any restriction it should have come through the amount of monev a person could take out of the country. I believe the people who are going away or.cc should not be penalised. The person who . takes regular trips is the one the Reserve Bank should look at” John Kirk is concerned in case reciprocal landing rights with Japan will be affected by the decision. “Japan is a countrv we shall have to trade with a lot more,” he said. “I was able to spend five days there in May, and I was very impressed with Japan’s attitude. “They are unaware of us in Japan. To give praise where praise is due, I think the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) did a good job for us up there, but I think he has effectively neutralised every

bit of good he did. Now we want the Japanese to give us landing rights in Tokyo and Osaka, while Japan Airlines can come down here. But we are penalising by 10 per cent all New Zealanders who want to go to Japan. It’s crazy.” He is highly critical of the situation as it affects Australia, and predicts some big changes in international landing rights. “The reciprocal deals we have with Australia are going to get worse,” he said. John Kirk has other firm ideas on narcotics control, protection from violence, and law and order generally. He regards these matters as entirely outside party politics. “Narcotics control is something to be looked at sternly by both parties,” he said. “Law and order, narcotics, violence, must produce a united front. No matter what government is in power, the criminal must know he is not tolerated. 1 would sooner see the Minister of Police as an officer of public security than as a political head, under party attack.” However, Mr Kirk expressed some concern at the police position; “Since this Government took over, they’ve brought on only 134 police. We put on an average of 250 a year. I think we cannot go under the ratios set a few years ago.” Mr Kirk has had two overseas trips. Last year he went to a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in Australia, and this year he went with the Speaker (Sir Roy Jack) and other members to Washington and South-east Asia. “This was a rewarding experience,” he said. “I saw a lot, and met some world leaders.” “I think our future is bound up with Japan,” he said. “I cannot help repeating how crazy it was to slap that travel tax on people wanting to go there.”

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