Political stirring a bar to progress

Press, 3 September 1977, Page 2

Political stirring a bar to progress

The week in the House

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

This week in Parliament just failed to be an extension of peace and progress before the coming storms. Some progress was made, but much time was wasted in argument about what many would term trivial issues. Perhaps some of this was because of the departure for hospital of the Speaker (Sir Roy Jack), and his replacement by Mr J. R. Harrison (Nat., Hawke’s Bay). It had seemed that Sit Roy was winning his battle against the unwieldy notice of motion, the persistent supplementary questioner, and the unrepentant interjector when he had to leave the chair. Now, it seems that Mr Harrison, like a new form-master, has it all to do again. Much of the argument appeared in the “You did” — “No, I didn’t” dialogue, and investigation tended to reveal no case to answer. Mr M. Rata (Lab., Northern Maori) was at the centre of several commotions. First he, suggested that the Information Consul for South Africa (Mr H. W. Thom) should be recalled for remarks which Mr Rata considered were a gross breach of diplomatic privilege. But inquiry showed that Mr Rata’s name was not connected with Mr Thom’s remarks — and all was well, at the expense of a considerable loss of time. Mr Rata was again called a “stirrer” during the introduction of a national parks measure yesterday morning, because of his demand for express Maori representation on the board. The argument

involved took : up valuable time — but served only to '■ emphasise the divisiveness • which is creeping over the ( country between Maori and non-Maori. The Minister of Lands (Mr . V. Young) referred to a 1 speech by a non-Maori (Dr • G. A. Wail, Lab., Porirua) as I “one of the most racially dis visive I have ever heard.” > He pointed out that if he ’ wanted Maoris on the park r board, Mr Rata could have ■ done so in 1975, when he i was Minister of Lands, and the board was last apt pointed. s So it went during the ■ week, with much argument t for little gain, ana gave . some validity in the sugges- • tion that electioneering for s next year’s General Election 5 has already started. If this r goes on, any forecast about > the rest of the session cannot be an optimistic one. As ’ for the recurring theme that ■ Mount Egmont (or Mount 1 Taranaki), or any other • piece of New Zealand territory, should be returned to . its Maori “owners” — the ■ time is overdue for a morat torium, if only in the inter- - ests of New Zealand as a 1 homogeneous society. ) Despite these time-losses, • Parliament did well in the • discussion of Estimates, and b even had time to move some t legislation forward. There r are now 24 measures on the ■ main Order Paper, and an- ■ other 19 before various seI. lect committees. '• The return of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) is d likely to see an ini- tensification of pressure, s Yesterday morning the Leader of the Opposition r (Mr Rowling) asked the Acttt ing Prime Minister (Mr Talt boys) whether there was any

truth in the rumour that there would soon be another working recess of a week or so. Mr Taiboys replied equivocally: “From time to time this House is full of rumours.” But this did not amount to a denial of rumour. It is possible that the “when” and “how long” of the recess has been left to Mr Muldoon. There is no indication yet as to when Government business will be ruled as taking precedence over private members’ notices of motion. This is likely to happen any time, with "more than thirty notices of motion marooned on the Order Paper. In the coming week, the consideration of Estimates will be confined to Tuesday. Wednesday will see private members’ business, plus some discussion on legislation. Then, at long last, we are promised a debate on foreign affairs. It is curious that, though Mr Taiboys, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be in charge of the debate, the main speech will undoubtedly bi that of Mr Muldoon, who has participated in most of the relevant international gatherings this year, and who will be off again next month to the meeting of the International Monetary Fund. The foreign affairs debate will begin on Wednesday night, and will probably go on through Thursday. On Friday there will be another imprest supply debate, which in the present temper of the House could see Friday’s sitting, under urgency, invading members’ week-end departure-times.