Posted on 05/22/2005 9:23:51 PM PDT by shaggy eel
Great analogy Brian!
Be Ever Vigilant!
WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2005
By MARTIN KAY [The DOMINION POST]
Tim Groser looks set to stay in Geneva to shepherd talks worth billions of dollars to New Zealand, after the Government backed away from calls to dump him.
In a letter to the World Trade Organisation's general council, New Zealand representative Tony Lynch says the Government accepts there is a case for Mr Groser to remain as chairman of agriculture negotiations while moves to end subsidies and tariffs approach their climax.
The letter offers to pay for Mr Groser to stay in Geneva till a crucial meeting on the Doha round in July.
"The New Zealand Government places the highest importance and priority to the successful and timely conclusion of the Doha development agenda," Mr Lynch wrote. "(It) would be prepared to consider facilitating Tim's availability to continue a chairing role, should that be the wish of the membership."
The letter contrasts sharply with the furious reaction from Prime Minister Helen Clark and Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton to Mr Groser's decision to stand for National as a list candidate in the election.
That decision meant Mr Groser had to resign as ambassador to the WTO under rules governing public servants standing for Parliament. Mr Sutton described Mr Groser's actions as a "betrayal" and Miss Clark said the Government had no confidence in him staying on as agriculture chairman.
That remark was a clear signal to the WTO's general council – which appointed Mr Groser chairman – that he should be dumped immediately. The chairman's appointment is based on consensus, and Miss Clark was indicating consensus had gone.
She also said the WTO should consider that Mr Groser was appointed chairman because of his role as ambassador, which he no longer held.
A spokeswoman for Mr Sutton denied the letter was a backdown, and said the Government still thought it was inappropriate for someone to stand for Parliament or be an MP while heading a non-partisan WTO post.
The Government realised, however, that Doha was at a delicate stage and it would be difficult to replace Mr Groser.
National leader Don Brash welcomed the letter to the WTO. "We are talking about agricultural trade talks which could be worth billions to New Zealand. You can't throw that away in a fit of pique."
Man, isn't she ready to drown him in a teaspoon!
The National Party's rules allow a maximum of five people to stand for the Party on the party list, without standing in an electorate. All other candidates must be on the list and standing in an electorate. Tim is one of the list candidates, and the Board and I agree that he has the potential to make an enormous contribution to New Zealand through being part of a National-led Government.
He has stood down from his position as New Zealand ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), but hopes to continue in his role as chairman of the agriculture committee of the WTO. I certainly support his doing that because of the enormous contribution he can still make in that capacity, not only to New Zealand but to world trade and prosperity more generally. I have made it clear that if, as expected, he wins a seat in Parliament, I am willing to give him leave of absence until his role as chairman of the agriculture committee comes to an end, probably in December this year. And I have agreed that because there is a widespread view among many of the members of that committee that the skills and experience which Tim brings to the committee would be very difficult, if not impossible, to replace.
I have been profoundly disappointed at the way the Labour Government has reacted to this development. After praising him enthusiastically only weeks ago, suddenly he has been accused of traitorous behaviour and being "not our first choice for the job anyway". I suppose it is this kind of petty-minded vindictiveness which gives politicians such a bad name.
How quickly Labour seems to have forgotten that the National Government under Prime Minister Jenny Shipley gave its whole-hearted support to former Labour Prime Minister Mike Moore in his bid to head the WTO in the late nineties. Why? Because Jenny Shipley recognised that New Zealand's interests in a better world trading environment could be advanced by Mike Moore, even though he had been a fierce political opponent. I would have hoped that Helen Clark's Government would have recognised New Zealand's wider interests also.
As you will have seen from today's newspapers, warnings from officials did finally get through. Helen Clark has had to backtrack from her fit of pique and the Government has confirmed Mr Groser in place in the meantime, to try to keep these important trade talks on the road.
And of course there is a precedent for a member of Parliament simultaneously undertaking an international role: Labour MP Hugh Watt took up the position of New Zealand High Commissioner in London on 22 March 1975, but was a member of Parliament until 30 October that year, more than seven months later. And I'd be happy to wager that Mr Watt's contribution to New Zealand during that seven month period was a pale shadow of what Tim Groser could achieve for New Zealand over the next seven months.
Don Brash, May 25 2003
BUMP
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