New Marlborough M.P. will open debate Comment from the Capital

Press, 21 May 1979, Page 16

New Marlborough M.P. will open debate Comment from the Capital

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

The new member for Marlborough, 37-year-oid Douglas Lorimer Kidd, has much on his mind as Parliament gets under way. His first problem has been to prepare the speech with which he will open the address-in-reply debate on Tuesday evening. This will be his maiden speech in Parliament, but it will also provide a lead-in to Government policy. Its preparation has had to await both the presentation by the Governor-General of the Speech from the Throne, of which he had no advance knowledge, and the course .of last Friday’s debate on imprest supply. This did not really worry the young Blenheim barrister and solicitor, who was one of those observed by the president of the national party. Mr G. A. Chapman, to be a member likely to strengthen the party’s image in Parliament.

“The problem with this is that it is not just a maiden speech in which I would like to talk about my electorate to the exclusion of everything else,” he told me, “When you are opening for the Government, you find there is a lot to be learned, and very quickly.” He is hoping to deal in his speech with some issues of wide concern and, by illustrating them by reference to his district,’ to do both jobs effectively. “ My main problem at the moment, in the middle of all sorts of extraneous things, is to sit down and think where Marlborough is going, and what I can do in the Government

party to see that it gets there."

As a back-bench member he sees his task as twofold. First, he has to defend his electorate; second, he has to promote new ideas which may be expected to increase prosperity.

“I am one of only a handful of members of Parliament who each represent a whole region,” Mr Kidd explained. “Here I am Marlborough’s only advocate and only defender. So, when you have something like the threatened closing of the port of Picton, it is my duty to react and give some kind of leadership.”

He did this, working with community groups and getting public meetings together. Even so, he says, “I can do only so much. The local bodies, harbour boards, producer boards, all have their roles. I can only act as a catalyst, and an advocate.”

Another issue in which he has been heavily engaged has been the threat to the Picton ferry terminal. “I know my district fairly well,” Mr Kidd said. “I have been there 15 years, and involved in all sorts .of things. So I blew my lid at that one straight away —not just as a gut-emotional response, but because I know a bit about the port system in Picton, having had contact with the harbour board for a dozen years.” • As a result, one of the things he treasures is a letter from the Minister of Railways (Mr McLachlan) informing him that the proposal is not going to be effected.

“But we are not leaving

it there,” Mr Kidd said. “The hard work has yet to be done. We have had public meetings on this, and 1 have a committee working with me. Within a couple of weeks we will have finished our homework, and I shall present a dossier on our side of the story to the Minister and the general manager of Railways. This will be there, right alongside all the smart ideas about a new ferry terminal.”

Mr Kidd believes the Marlborough people have a strong case on both social and economic grounds. He has some ideas of his own on suggested improvements in the transport system. “We hope to do the impossible, and have the best of two worlds — with the terminal remaining in Picton.” This he regards as the “defending” side. On the promotional side, for the advancement of the district, he believes in “flying a few kites.” He qualified this: “I didn’t try to fly a kite, so much as a train. My style is to work with the local community.” In Wellington, Mr Kidd’s task starts at 8 a.m., and frequently does not finish until 11 p.m., even when Parliament is not in session. The Picton groups are also working on a brief, which he will present to the Railways. His opinion on prospects of having a certain vintage train service on the Picton line: “I think we have a good story. You have to be in to win.”

He makes it very clear, however, that success in any effort depends on cooperation and enthusiasm in the district. This also applies to such projects as the passenger jetfoil across Cook Strait. “I am also personally very keen on the jetfoil idea,” Mr Kidd said. “I believe in the technology of the jetfoil.” He has discussed this with people who were on the BrightonDieppe jetfoil service only a fortnight ago, and he has examined information they brought back. This has convinced him that, unlike other developments including the hovercraft, the jetfoil provides the opportunity for a big step forward in tourism and travel.

“With the jetfoil it seems to me that the time has finally arrived to get people across Cook Strait with speed and comfort, and without the attendant expense of air travel,” he said. He wants the jetfoil service, if it eventuates, to be run by private enterprise. If the present negotiating group is successful, he would be glad to work with them. If their idea is dropped, “I would see it as a promotion opportunity for me to try and interest somebody else.” Mr Kidd has a -number of other ideas on which he is working, but prefers not to talk about them at present. “All members, especially the ones with the small

majorities, must make looking after their people a priority,” Mr Kidd reflected. “If we are going to get to the end of the century in decent shape — and I be-

lieve this is the name of the game — my district has to develop. If we do not increase economic activity in Marlborough, there is no way in which there will be more jobs. Because the world is as highly competitive as it is. we would simply go steadily backwards. It is true, not . just smart patter, that we - must produce or perish.”