Govt. Attacks Mr Kirk

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31081, 9 June 1966, Page 3

Govt. Attacks Mr Kirk

(N.Z. Press Association> WELLINGTON, June 8. Government members today charged the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) with attempting to belittle New Zealand in the eyes of overseas people. Mr W. A. Sheat (Govt.,, Egmont), speaking to a Notice of Motion criticising Mr Kirk, claimed that he and other Labour members had indulged in “loose talk” in spite of the fact that New Zealand had witnessed five years of record development unsurpassed in the country’s history Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opp., Nelson) described the leader-1 ship of the Government as! “third-rate" and read newspaper articles which said areas such as Gisborne’s east coast were still undeveloped. Mr Whitehead moved an amendment supporting Mr Kirk and criticising the Government.

“Our exporters are doing an heroic job and the sooner they get some recognition from the Opposition the happier I will be," said Mr G. A. Walsh (Govt., Tauranga). Farmers also deserved credit for their export efforts, he said. New Zealand had only 75,000 farmers. It was time they had some recognition for their efforts. “The New Zealand farmer still leads the world,” said Mr Walsh. An Opposition voice: In spite of the Government. Mr M. Moohan (Opp., Petone) termed the motion “silly, nonsensical and as phoney as a double-headed penny.” The Government by its own actions was holding

New Zealand up to the world as second-class. “Mr Kirk had said: ‘We are not a second-class nation,’ and Mr Sheat knows that," said Mr Mooha •. He said Kapuni gas was available five years and a half ago, but the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) could not 'make up his mind what to do with it. If it had been used for power the “Tongariro blunder might have been postponed.” Mr J. B. Gordon (Govt., [Clutha) said the Government was going to use Kapuni gas wisely. The asset was not wasted, but rather, had been preserved so that it would accumulate in value. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment.