Co-operation Offered

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 16

Co-operation Offered

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 12. The Labour Party was ready to co-oper-ate fully with the Government in tackling New Zealand’s economic problems, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said in Auckland today.

But the Government would have to be prepared to review some of its policies which were contributing to hardships being suffered by New Zealanders.

“We are prepared to do everything we can to help overcome the difficulties the country faces,” said Mr Kirk. “But we are not prepared to be partners in the present procrastination.”

The Government could not allow the situation to drift any longer, he said. “We have had nearly nine months of the present economic policies

without any improvement. And to have a senior Minister announce that any improvement is so indefinite as to be a matter of two years and longer away is to confess to the failure of Government policies.” Mr Kirk said that no action had been taken on unemployment, which was on the point of becoming a great deal worse.

Firms which had been marking time waiting to see if there was any improvement in the wool situation were beginning to lay off staff and in some cases to close. After each wool sale there was news of more people being laid off. “We have to work our way out of the present troubles. Every section of the community has to pull together and co-operate if the country is to recover.”

The country must reduce its liabilities for overseas payments and make sure that it does not import anything which could be made here, either from its own resources or from stocks.

“We have to be ready to make the fullest possible use of everything at our disposal, while externally we have got to be very much more aggressive marketers.

“We are not doing this with our wool. We should be getting out and chasing the buyers.”

Such a time, when there was a need to pull together, was not one for self-interest. “Some who are opposing changes in the wool marketing system should think about setting aside their own sectional interests and think about doing what is right for the country,” he said.