“Trade Policy To Win Election”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 14

“Trade Policy To Win Election”

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 9. The Labour Party conference today put emphasis on trade promotion and encouragement of secondary industries. One member said the party’s policy on these two matters would win it the next election. The conference recommended urgent consideration and implementation by the party policy committee of the foliowing trade promotion remits:

(1) That a new agency be established whose sole task would be the development of new markets for exports. (2) That an economic and political research committee be established to prodttce a plan for Commonwealth trade development. (3) That long-term credits be granted to developing countries (4) That reciprocal trade be developed with Cuba. (5) That full trading re- ' lations be entered into

with Asian countri:s. (6) That an investigation be made into the establishment of long-term trade pacts for the bulk purchase of New Zealand primary products. (7) That a more positive effort be made to secure new markets for New Zealand primary products The conference recommended the party policy committee to consider favourably the following remits to bring down a constructive development plan tor the next election: (1) That a five-year plan to accelerate the growth of prxiuction be drawn up (21 That a committee of inquiry investigate the industrial development of New Zealand. <3> That a co-operative trading and manufacturing conference on the lines of the 1961 industrial development conference be convened (4) That a national planning authority be set up to supervise economic development. Hie party’s policy committee is to be asked to consider whether all private companies, other than very small “truly private” companies, should be required to show

the same information as public companies in their annual returns. The conference also decided today that the policy committee should look at the proposition that all companies. other than “small private companies,” should be required to revalue their asssets at a minimum of fiveyearly intervals and show the current value in their annual returns.

The conference decided that the Golden Kiwi lottery should be made competitive with overseas lotteries. It considered that all profits from the lottery should be donated to suitable charitable, philanthropic. cultural and humanitarian objects, and recommended that the mode of distribution should be investigated by the next Labour Government. Other conference decisions included:—

That jury service should be compulsory for women. A sub-committee had considered that the suggestion should not be endorsed, but after two women delegates had called for the endorsement on the grounds that there should be an equitable responsibility, the conference decided to back it. That full Ministerial control of broadcasting in the same way that the State Ad-

vances Corporation is controlled be adopted. On presenting this recommendation Mr H. L. J. May. M.P. for Onslow, said it would be necessary to bring down legislation to say in lust what cases the Government could lay down policy for the corporation The conference opposed the establishment of private television stations.

That the age of franchise should be lowered to 20, and that the policy committee should favourably consider the question of Cook Islands representation in the New Zealand Parliament. The conference also considered that the method of voting at local body and Parliamentary elections should be made uniform, that the designation of local body candidates should appear on the ballot papers, and that all papers should be marked by a cross against the name of the approved candidate.

The conference came out strongly against any change in the three-yearly Parliamentary term. The conference endorsed the principle of price control where it would reduce charges of essential commodities for consumers. It also endorsed a remit calling for an investigation into the charges for food and refreshments at race meetings and similar gatherings.