Socred ‘somersault,’ says Mr Rowling

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 1

Socred ‘somersault,’ says Mr Rowling

PA Wellington Social Credit has done the greatest "political somersault” in recent history, and caved in for political gain said Labour’s leader (Mr Rowling) last evening. Mr Rowling described the agreement on the Clyde dam as "a complete cave in” bj' Social Credit on the key issue of the rule of law. He-said the Social Credit “capitulation" had allowed the Government “to dodge its responsibility" for the shambles it had created on the Clyde, its responsibility to the work-force, the longerterm implications of its energy planning, and its "sacrifice of the Ministry of Works, for overseas contractors." A package put forward by the Labour Party would have upheld the rule of law, allowed work to continue at Clyde, and protected the long-term future of the workers in the area, said Mr Rowling. “The Social Credit collapse to the National Government must stand as one of the great political somersaults of recent political history," said Mr Rowling. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Lange), himself a lawyer, said that Social Credit's belief that Parliament could set itself up as a court to rule on the Clyde dam issue was "quite ridiculous." “The highest court in the land: all that means is that

we have the power to change the law, not to hold hearings and behave as if the Speaker were a judge.” he said. The Government backbencher, Mr M. J. Minogue (Hamilton West).- said he would oppose any Government move to try to set Parliament up as the highest court in the land because it was "nonsense" and "just words." The Social Credit solution and the Government solution of passing special legislation to enable the dam to be built were essentially the same thing, he said. “There is no change from the present situation. It is like saying let us give someone a fair trial before we hang him. Whatever trial they get, it is not going to alter the verdict.” The future validity of the agreement was questioned by

the Labour spokesman on consitutional affairs, Mr G. W. R. Palmer (Christchurch Central). He asked what validity the agreement would have if a General Election had to be called before the legal process had been completed, and a new Parliament with different numbers resulted. The Labour Party is also critical of Social Credit for not insisting in its proposals that work on the high dam be done by the Ministry of Works. The Government’s preferred contractor, Ed Zublin, of West Germany, was believed to have as much as 90 per cent of the contract, with its New Zealand partner, Williamson Construction Company, the balance, said Labour’s works and development spokesman, Mr F. M. Colman (Pencarrow).