Party Delegates Quick To Criticise Govt

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32358, 25 July 1970, Page 1

Party Delegates Quick To Criticise Govt

(From Our Own Reporter)

ROTORUA, July 24.

National Party conference delegates today began to show their readiness to criticise the Government. Unlike most post-election conferences the meeting of about 360 delegates and 300 observers lacked any tone of selfcongratulation when it began its three days of business this afternoon.

Through the presidential report circulated earlier, the delegates had already learned that the party organisation was being carefully examined.

And the divisions had already given notice through many of their 65 remits that they have ideas on how party policy and Government action might be adjusted.

The party president (Mr E. D. Holt) left the conference in no doubt about the meaning of the Marlborough byelection loss, though he reported that it had given the organisation a “much-needed and stimulating jolt” “To the National Party it came as a shock,” he said, recalling a statement in his annual report that the Marlborough result was probably the party’s most severe reverse in a by-election. “It has prompted us to undertake careful, detailed and critical studies of our activities and to revitalise our thinking.” It had stimulated an eagerness in the party that had not been evident in other postelection years, he said. “Meetings have been better attended and more constructive than for many years. There is a realisation that we must challenge the growing strength of the Opposition.” Report Modified Mr Holt appeared to modify his earlier assessmentmade in his annual report—of inflation and industrial unrest. These reflected a worldwide problem, he said in his report, “but there is abso- 1 lutely no sign of the sltua- 1 tion getting out of hand.” 1 Today, Mr Holt identified 1 rising prices and industrial 1 unrest as “the most immediate of the problems that we now face,” though “to some extent the result of present buoyant internal economic conditions.” With apparent concern for the conference’s obvious interest in these topics, the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) is expected to change the theme of his planned address to the conference tomorrow from a report on E. negotiations to the subject of industrial relations. Many of the remits the conference will discuss deal with industrial relations and industrial law. In the face of those delegates who will be demanding

a bard line of action by the Government, the conference will this year miss the moder, ating hand of the late Minister of Labour (Mr Shand). But to some extent, Mr Holt today pointed to the way he would like to see the industrial situation handled. Dangers “The Government is well aware of the need to bring harmony into industrial relations,” he said. “But it is also well aware of the dangers and the disruption that could occur by following some of the lines of action which have been suggested. “The solution to this problem will need much patience, firmness, and understanding by all concerned. In some cases it will be necessary to allow time for tempers to cool.

“Negotiations in an atmosphere of calm are essential. Above all, there must be a desire to succeed and good will shown by all. This National Government is fully conscious of the gravity of the situation and will not shirk its responsibilities,” Mr Holt said.

The conference was barely under way before it was hearing a succession of speakers demanding Government action on prices, and on the costs of farmers in particular. Big Business A remit from Grey Lynn, calling for more emphasis on the party’s policy of encouraging competition as a means of controlling prices turned out to be an attack on big business firms and a defence of small companies and family businesses. The complaints against unnamed company mergers and take-overs in the food, transport, liquor, poultry, cement, baking, and ice-cream industries were reminiscent of similar arguments in the Labour Party conference this year. Mr B. D. Webster (Grey Lynn) found many supporters for his objection to laws and practices that, he said, were disincentives to the self-em-ployed and to small businesses.

“The public and shareholders must be protected against price increases and take-overs,” said Mr V. Percival (Onehunga). Mr A. E. Hiatt (Rangiora)

objected to take-overs by breweries of wine and spirit firms because, he said, the bigger firms could not obtain additional import licences. Labour Monopoly Mr J. Meder (Grey Lynn) urged that organised labour should also be regarded as a monopoly and he demanded more incentives to provide capital to meet the needs of the maximum number of entrepreneurs. Only two speakers came out against the remit—or rather against the arguments put in

support of it: they interpreted the remit as an appeal for “cottage industries” and asked whether small industries were capable of surviving if they were not efficient. The conference approved . the Grey Lynn remit. Several fann'-rs called for Government action to increase the profitability of the farming industry. The profitability of farming had steadily declined, they said, while its productivity increased and the costs of farming rose Manufacturers were enjoying protection and were working on a cost-plus basis. The conference endorsed a remit from four electorates in the Waikato area that sought action to "restore viability to the farming industry.”