Conference Ends In General Accord

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 28

Conference Ends In General Accord

(From Our Own Reporter) ROTORUA, July 27. The National Party ended its conference in Rotorua today in considerably better shape than the somewhat battered and dislocated appearance it was presenting last Friday. Both delegates and members of Parliament dispersed in a mood of general accord that would not have been confidently predicted three days ago. Party leaders went home with the impression that this was one of the liveliest and most effective conferences that the party has held for many years.

I On almost all issues I the conference adopted a I moderate line. The more | liberal-minded delegates I showed that they were | capable of steering policy I away from the harder I Right-wing line that was I beginning to be taken I early in the conference. I The Deputy Prime Minister I (Mr Marshall) has been I generally credited with havB ing given, on the key issue of industrial relations, the kind of lead that the conference sought Younger members of the party showed on many occasions that their thinking is moving rapidly ahead of older party members. A meeting of the Young Nationals organisation reflected the unusually determined mood of the conference and passed a series of resolutions that were far from characteristic of former party meetings. They agreed that: Punishment for the possession of marijuana be relaxed and that more emphasis be put on rehabilitation. More intensive teaching of English be given in schools with a high proportion of Polynesian and - foreign children. f The Government open nego- ■ flattens with a view to ‘ New Zealand officially recognising China. Substantial increases in teachers’ salaries be implemented at the earliest opportunity. Main Success

mainly because the proposers insisted that the working hours of employed staff should not be affected by the change. Adventure Camps The conference accepted the proposal that notice having been given of the end of school cadets the Government should give financial support to approved organisations which are building or have developed youth adventure camps. The reinstatement today of Mr E. D. Holt as president of the party confirms a programme of overhauling of some of the party’s electioneering machinery. The Marlborough by-election loss stimulated a reappraisal of the usual practice of leaving the running of by-elections largely to electorate organisations. Mr Holt favours more support from the central organisation of the party, in addition to the financial support ordinarily dispensed by the central party office. The independence of electorates in selecting their candidates will remain sacrosanct, but future by-election campaigns are bound to see much more activity by the central organisation. By reactivating neglected portions of the party’s rules, and by attempting to engage greater interest of branches and individuals in the discussion of policy proposals, the party will probably supplement the conference as a source of policy.

Between conferences, proposals adopted by branches and divisions will be sought by the policy committee. This plan is being fostered as-a means to get party feeling on topical issues quickly to the policy-making level. “Major Issues’' “There are some among us, and some outside the party, who said this would be a dull and uninspiring conference,” said Sir Keith Holyoake. “But I am quite excited about what I have heard. You belted the Government, and this is how it should be. People have been directly concerned in major isues we have discussed and there have been provocative recommendations to the policy committee." In fact, most of the more provocative proposals that came to the conference were rejected, and the National Party caucus in Parliament is likely to have little difficulty in justifying inaction on some of the remits, such as the repeal of the Tenancy Act Long before the conference ended, those delegates who had arrived determined to take a tough line on industrial, educational, and farming questions, accepted moderate proposals or dropped their arguments altogether. The full conference today upset none of the recommendations of committees that debated remits on Saturday. Confidence Vote The Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys), who found himself the victim of strident attacks on Friday, emerged from the conference today with a vote “of complete confidence,” In a brief speech after the standing ovation he was given, Mr Taiboys rejected suggestions that the fact that he had not been a teacher and that he had no administrative experience in education disqualified him as a Minister of Education. “I have one interest,” he said. “That is promoting education for the well-being of the children of this country." Mr Taiboys reinforced his position during a panel discussion on Sunday evening, when he told delegates that he was continually questioning departmental advisers on aspects' of teacher training which had raised doubts, and when he reviewed the history of the committee examining the claim for higher salaries for teachers.

Younger members of the party regard the overwhelming vote in favour of reforming the law on homosexuality as their main success in the conference. The remit from the Wellington division Young Nationals was carried out by 180 to about 60. This majority came after one of the longest and keenest debates of the week-end, and is likely to stir the Government to reopen the question of law reform. The only other debates of moment this morning concerned shop hours, the abolition of the school cadet system, and an inquiry into the freezing industry. Greater opportunity for small businesses to open for longer hours, especially at week-ends, has been the subject of remits to conferences for several years. This year, delegates favouring the freeing of hours and the abolition of the exempted goods list appeared to succeed