NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Some Suggestions May Reach Budget

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31983, 9 May 1969, Page 20

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Some Suggestions May Reach Budget

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 8. The Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) today informed delegates to the National Development Conference that he would try to get some of the conference’s recommendations implemented by the Government as early as this year’s Budget.

The Minister declared that no' Government of whatever political colour could ignore the decisions of the conference, and must take note of the recommendations that were made.

“The Government must govern—we have the ultimate responsibility—but we cannot ignore the consensus which comes from this conference.” Desirable Aim “This is an alliance—an alliance for progress. “We will agree that the aim of the conference is desirable and vital. The aim Is future prosperity for this country,” said Mr Muldoon. The bringing together of all sections of the community was the complete answer to those few who believed the conference was some kind of a hoax, or who questioned its motives.

“None of you would be here today if you believed that were so,” he said.

Growth Targets Mr Muldoon said if anything before the conference was left unresolved after this week’s final plenary session it would be up to the Government and the conference’s continuing machinery to finalise decisions. The final plenary session of the conference will end tomorrow, when the recommendations made by the 17 conference committees, as modified or accepted by the plenary’s three sub-commit-tees, will be considered. Mr Muldoon said that the keynote of the conference was the bringing together of different views in public and private, and some were astonished to find that their views were not very different “There will be differences of opinion in the future, but as a result of the conference they will never be so profound as they were in the past. Working Parties The Minister said he refused to accept criticism that the growth target calculations were crude or based on inadequate statistics, but said they set goals which could be amended and ultimately achieved.

“The conference has given the Government the means by which all the goals can be achieved or exceeded.” He did not agree with Mr Kirk’s suggestion that Parliamentary representation on

the conference’s working parties was essential. The readiness of the population to dedicate itself to development would depend on whether it felt it would share in the resulting benefits, the chairman of the social and cultural committee (Dr J. L. Robson) told the conference.

Dr Robson, the Secretary for Justice, said the social and cultural aspects of community life had been undeveloped and largely ignored in the past, and there was a need for impetus. “We claim that we cherish the dignity, freedom and happiness of the human individual in society.” Art Collections Mr E. A. Crothall, of Christchurch, urged that the Government help art societies in negotiating with the owners of art collections in the Western world because of the

high transport cost and value of collections involved. This could increase the frequency of collections coming to New Zealand. Mr J. V. T. Baker, of Wellington, said a person’s freedom to develop in the way he chose could be hindered if certain disincentives were provided like means tests. “Means tests do provide disincentives to work,” he said. Direct Result Most people enjoyed work. He pointed out that census figures in 1966 showed for the first time that the percentage of people over 65 who were working had increased. He believed this was a direct result of the introduction of universal superannuation in 1960 and a move away from means tests. Mrs Cristine Cole, of Wellington, put .in a plea for proper recognition of the three main minority groups in New Zealand young people, Maoris and islanders, and women.

She urged that their talents be better used in the national interests, on a basis of individuality and ability.