National Conference Remits

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 36

National Conference Remits

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 12. That New Zealand industries producing indigenous exports should be given financial encouragement to spend more capital on equipment, is the recommendation in one of 70 remits to the National Party conference which will open in Auckland on July 19. “Industries producing wool, meat, wood-pulp, coal, timber and minerals, and the fishing industry, should be helped further in their processing—even to the extent of being granted financial aid,” says a note to the remit. “This aid could be in longterm loans, tax reductions or export incentives,” says the note. Another remit urges the Government to eliminate the costs brought about by the continuation of protective

licensing, tariffs and sales tax on materials, machinery or component parts used in the production, manufacture and handling of export products. Other remits in the same vein propose that the Government should give greater assistance to the promotion of. markets for export products. Government encouragement for more overseas investment in New Zealand—where practicable in association with New Zealand capital—is recommended with a view to promoting greater developmfent of New Zealand resources and bringing into New Zealand greater knowledge of overseas advances in technical and scientific research. ... Two remits deal with import control. One calls for urgent Government consideration to be given to the recommendation of the Monetary and Economic Council that import control should be abolished in accordance with a carefully prepared plan; the other suggests that the import licensing system be replaced with a system of protective tariffs.

A remit concerns the Wahine disaster. It calls on the Government to encourage the setting up of voluntary lifeboat services near main

ports and provide substantial financial aid in doing this. A note to the remit says the Wahine disaster had drawn attention to the need for such services, which are run voluntarily throughout Britain. The Government is to be urged by another remit to take steps to strengthen the country’s labour laws along the lines of the Australian pattern—especially concerning penalties for illegal strikes. • Two remits deal with social security. One asks the Government to further assist those on lower incomes and lower superannuation and social security benefits.

The second calls on the Government to provide for an increase in pension rates in proportion to the rise in the cost of living—such increase to be made annually. Television prompted two remits. One calls on the Minister of Broadcasting to discuss with the N.Z.B.C. the introduction of a television programme dealing with the promotion of exports of manufactured goods (including processed primary products); the other calls for programmes on higher education after normal viewing hours.