New Zealand Held Over-Governed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 12

New Zealand Held Over-Governed

"The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON, March 27.

“New Zealand is the most over-governed country this side of the Iron Curtain,” said Mr F. Turnovsky to the Wellington South Rotary Club. Mr Turnovsky was a New Zealand delegate to the U.N.E.S.C.O. conference in Paris last November.

He said that the Welfare State was the greatest contribution this country had made to the world. Many countries had adopted the same assistance, or measures very similar, but the glamour was wearing thin and in some countries the words “Welfare State” were dirty words. “The Welfare State does not solve all problems, and also it creates many others,” he said.

What a person saw in New Zealand did not support the contention that this country had the second or third highest living standard in the world. There were cars, but they were getting old, and new cars were harder to come by. Other Countries

“Other countries who had to fight for their position in the world are coming up fast and will overtake us in the future,” he said. Mr Turnovsky spoke of the continued loosening of ties between this country and the United Kingdom. “This step was taken in London, when Britain made its abortive attempt to enter the Common Market. “I think that Britain will join the Common Market if de Gaulle lets her. This is an opinion I have formed after talking to many British businessmen. You can’t blame them. There is a large market before them, and the economy needs it.” Many British businessmen had expressed a wish to rid themselves of the Commonwealth, but they really meant the problems of the Commonwealth, Mr Turnovsky contended.

There were many problems facing Britain. The “old” Commonwealth had lost South Africa, and now even Canada and Australia were thinking of going their own way. “New Zealand does have a special place in the hearts of British folk. People say the ties are definitely there, and if Britain does enter the market it is likely concessions will be made.”

They would probably not be all that New Zealand wanted. Indeed, they would probably be much less than this country needed, he said. “We must be prepared for

it. The world is full of problems and our problems, however big they are for us, are only small for the rest of the world. To them we hardly pvifit ’ “Had It So Good” “Nobody has any sympathy for us, because we have had it so good for so long; but we still have a good name overseas because people still lend us money.” Mr Turnovsky pictured New Zealanders as easy-going, happy-go-lucky people, good at sport and self reliant when in the bush, but not quite up to the tricks of those overseas. “We have lived in the Welfare State sheltered playground too long.” The nation should be tough and resourceful, especially as far as Australia is concerned. “We must destroy this patronising, look-down-our-noses attitude of Australians. “New Zealanders must stop acting as though they come from part of Australia, and assert their rights as a separate nation.” He called for a more dynamic and strong appearance from manufacturers operating in the New ZealandAustralia Free Trade Agreement to develop their resourcefulness, and destroy the sheltered playground they have lived in for so, long. “Would it not be better to have a fight on our hands?” he asked.