Govt’s special plan causes red faces

Press, 5 July 1985, Page 2

Govt’s special plan causes red faces

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The Government has been embarrassed by the revelation in Parliament that it plans to set up a special caucus of South Island Labour members of Parliament to lobby for South Island interests. A circular letter was sent to all South Island Labour members of Parliament by the Senior Government Whip, himself a South Islander, Dr Michael Cullen (St Kilda). A copy of this letter fell into the hands of the National member, Mr Philip Burdon (Fendalton), who tabled a notice of motion in Parliament based upon it. Mr Burdon welcomed Dr Cullen’s initative, and com-

mented on the “deep sense of resentment” the South Island felt towards the

Labour Party. He called on Dr Cullen to join the National Party in persuading his more senior colleagues to honour the expectations that they had fed the South Island electorate in their years in opposition. Mr Burdon said that Government policies had caused huge power price increases, a radical change in South Island local government, a “massive neglect” of South Island traditional farming, and a comprehensive failure to assist South Island industry and development.

Dr Cullen was in the House when Mr Burdon read his notice of motion, but the procedures of Parliament did not give him the chance to reply on the spot.