N.Z. Development Talks Planned

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31597, 7 February 1968, Page 24

N.Z. Development Talks Planned

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 6.

A national development conference sponsored by the Government will be convened next August, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) announced today.

It will be part of an intensive review of New Zealand’s resources and a re-

view of the present and future pattern of economic development which will be undertaken in a series of conferences and special studies over the next 12 to 18 months.

Mr Holyoake said in a statement that the theme of the first conference would be “development for growth.”

It would consider broad objectives and targets for national growth; the second session, to be held later, would co-ordin-ate findings from working groups, each of which would examine an aspect of the economy.

Mr Holyoake said the organisation of the conference and the study groups would be directed by the Cabinet economic committee, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall). Mr Holyoake said that he had asked Mr Marshall and the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) to give particular attention to specific policy questions of national development to be referred to the conference.

A steering committee was now being formed to advise the Cabinet committee on the organisation of the confer-

ence, and generally to coordinate the work of the two conference sessions, and the working groups and their conferences.

Community Leaders

It would comprise leaders from industry, commerce, farming and trade unions, and the Government services. The Treasury would service the steering committee and the conference, said the Prime Minister.

Mr Holyoake said the second conference would study such subjects as overseas markets, exporting, transport, and labour and employment. Other groups, some already in existence, would be asked to draw up development programmes and arrange their own conferences where appropriate. ‘Remove Obstacles’ “We must do everything possible to remove obstacles to growth and provide opportunities and facilities for the country to channel its resources and productive effort into areas which add most to development and growth. “It is only in this way that we can achieve a rate of growth necessary to provide employment for our rapidly growing population, to main-

tain a desirable level of social welfare and to sustain our high standard of living,” he said. The Prime Minister said the other groups and conferences would cover the main producing sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and forestry, and would work within the over-all compass of the national conference and its targets for growth. “The aims of the conference and its working groups will be to try to identify problem areas and to develop constructive measures towards stimulating soundly based and sustained economic growth. “In doing this it will establish the basis of a coordinated national development programme for the next five to 10 years. Meeting Soon “It will also enable all sections of the community to examine and co-ordinate their own development programmes according to over-all objectives,” he said. Mr Holyoake said that after recommendations had been made by the steering committee, which was to hold its first meeting soon, details would be announced of arrangements to make the conference widely representative so that as many people and organisations as possible could make positive contributions.

These could be made through written representations, membership of special or sector groups, or by attendance at conference sessions. “The success of the whole conference, and the stimulus it will give to national development, will depend very much on support from all sections of the community,” said the Prime Minister.