Caution the keynote in Labour’s shadow line-up

Press, 15 December 1979, Page 1

Caution the keynote in Labour’s shadow line-up

Parliamentary reporter Evolution rather than revolution marks the Labour shadow ministry announced yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rowling.

Within the confines of this cautious approach, Mr Rowling has attempted to retain some stability from the “Old Guard’’ while noting the ambitions of youn-er members, whose dissatisfactions with what they saw as an inertia in the party erupted with the replacem'*"! of the former Deputy Leader (Mr R. J. Tizard) by Mr D. R. Lange a few weeks ago. Mr .’.owling’s job required that he pull together the old and the new as smoothlv as possible. He almost made it, but an eleventh-hour theatrical response by the vocal and self-confident member for Auckland Central, Mr R. W. Prebble, shattered the sense of unitv. Mr Prebble had been named as shadow Minister for Immigration, Environment, and Regional development. It was not to his liking, he turned down the appointment, and also resigned his post as Junior Opposition Whip. Consequently he will be on the back benches next year.

That Mr Prebble had hoped for the justice portfolio is no secret. In his own words yesterday, he said that he believed he had done “a bloody good job” as justice spokesman. He felt slighted by the offer of what he regarded as minor portfolios. The four new faces in the shadow cabinet came as no surprise.

Three belong to members of the 1972-75 Parliament who returned in 1978 after three years in the wilderness: Mr F. D. O’Flynn (who is shadow minister for health), Mr T. K. Burke (labour and State services), and Dr M. E. Bassett) local government. internal affairs, and recreation and sport). These three had already been marked for higher office before the 1975 reversal, and once they had been returned to the House it was only a matter of time before they gained prominence. The fourth new member is Mr K. T. Wetere, who

takes the portfolios of Maori affairs and lands. It is in other appointments outside the shadow cabinet, however, that a lot of interest will centre. The conveners of the caucus standing committees must be regarded as having better than average chances of making the Cabinet if Labour is returned in 1981, because by then they will have had two extra years in the House and a lot of work under their belts in the running of the caucus. With this in mind. Mr D. F. Caygill (St Albans), Mr M. K. Moore (Papanui), and Mrs Ann Hercus (Lyttelton) all come into contention. They are the conveners of the economic committee; the social welfare, health, and education committee; and the production and marketing committee.

Mr E. E. Isbey (Papatoetoe), who has been dropped from Cabinet rank in Mr Rowling’s selection, retains his position as convener of the labour and industrial relations committee, and may well have enough influence in the caucus to be back on the front benches in a Labour Government cabinet.

But perhaps the most interesting appointment Mr Rowling has made is that of Mr G. W. R. Palmer (Christchurch Central) as his personal assistant. Mr Palmer was Labour’s most active opponent to the “fast-track” National Development Bill, but is obviously on a fast-track of his own. His appointment will allow him to gain quickly the political and Parliamentary experience it would take years to muster from the back benches.

The rest of the list follows expected lines, given the retirement intentions of such members as Messrs W. W. Freer (Mount Albert) and R. L. Bailey (Heretaunga). It also confirms the likelihood that Mr J. L. Hunt would be the Speaker in a Labour government, because he is not in the shadow cabinet but retains a special spokesmanship on constitutional and parliamentary reform. The special spokesmen backing up the shadow cabinet are:

Mrs Mary Batchelor, women’s issues; Mr D. J. Butcher, youth employment; Mr M. F. Courtney, horticulture; Mr J. L. Hunt, ■ nstitutional and parliamentary reform; Mr N. J. Kirk, railways; Mr B. P. MacDonell, consumer affairs; Mr R. K. Maxwell, electoral reform: Mr P. B. Reweti, marine (ports and shipping): Mr J. W. ~’4ley, technology (employment) issues; Mr F. L. Rogers, Post Office; Mr J J. Terris, broadcasting; Dr G. A. Wall, race relations; and Mr T. J. Young, tourism.

The Labour shadow ministry is: Mr Rowling — finance. Mr D. R. Lange — justice. Pacific Island affairs. Mr R. J. Tizard — economic development, energy. Sir Basil Arthur — agriculture and fisheries, forests, rural bank. Mr M. A. Connelly — works, police. Mr F. M. Colman — housing, associate energy. Mr C. R. Marshall — education. Mr R. O. Douglas — transport and communication. Mr J. A. Walding — trade and industry, overseas trade. Mr A. J. Faulkner — foreign affairs, defence. Mrs Whetu TirikateneSullivan — social welfare, family affairs. Mr K. T. Wetere — Maori affairs, lands. Mr F. D. O’Flynn — health. Mr T. K. Burke — labour, State services. Dr M. E. Bassett — lo?al government internal affairs, recreation and sport.