Industrial Development Policy Attacked

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31208, 4 November 1966, Page 9

Industrial Development Policy Attacked

The Government was only playing with the question of industrial development and the Development Finance Corporation Bill was only a “sop” and “a gesture,” the Labour Party candidate for Timaru (Sir Basil Arthur) said in his opening campaign address in the Marchwiel School on Wednesday evening. There was an attendance of 19 under the chairmanship of Mr C. D. Townshend. The candidate said the Government legislated to set up the corporation two years ago. “They are small men. They are not expected to think big. Goodness me, the corporation is only starting to get into operation. “It has lent or guaranteed £344,000. The Government contributed £lm to start off with, and £lm was subscribed,” Sir Basil Arthur said.

He told the meeting that in 1965, the Government passed legislation to permit 25 per cent more to be taken on capital costs on the electricity charge, which meant a further 25 per cent to be reclaimed from electricity consumers as from April 1, 1967. Sir Basil Arthur said the legislation was passed for obvious reasons—because the Government had no desire to bring it up in election year. “We will not collect that charge, which represents 10 to 15 per cent on everyone's power bill. There is no need for it, and that extra encumbrance should not be imposed,” he said.

He said the party’s manifesto was the most comprehensive he had ever been associated with, and one that covered every facet of New Zealand life. “There is something progressive in every aspect you may examine,” he said. He had represented the Timaru electorate for four years and a half, and had found it most rewarding. “I have done my best for Timaru,” he said. “The National Party was a negative one, bereft of policy and, if as it said, it was going to stand upon its record, and the Prime Minister, Mr Holyoake, did that, he would certainly go out of office,” Sir Basil Arthur said. “The record is one of record borrowing, through a period of record earnings when we should have been building up reserves.” Referring to the proposed

sealing of the runway at the Timaru Airport Sir Basil Arthur said that ever since he had been in Parliament he had tackled the Minister of Civil Aviation about the matter, as a Labour Government had set out certain priorities, and the Timaru sealing would have been completed in 1964 had that programme been followed. “I have been hammering the Minister to try and obtain a definite assurance as to when work can be done, and when the money is to be set aside,” said Sir Basil Arthur. In the eyes of his National opponent (Mr N. S. Brown) Cabinet, ministers should not be criticised, castigated or lampooned, even when it was obvious that the Government were trying to side-step and not carry out a definite undertaking, he said. “If I ever go cap-in-hand to any Minister, he (Mr Brown) is mistaken,” Sir Basil Arthur said.