N.D.C. review of targets

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32659, 15 July 1971, Page 3

N.D.C. review of targets

(New Zealand Press Association) J WELLINGTON, July 14. The National Development Council’s targets advisory group is preparing a complete review of N.D.C. targets, the council was told today.

The group chairman (Mr A. R. Low) said preliminary work had been completed on assumptions to be used in the revision of targets. These would be a target for growth of real gross national product per head, then a target for growth of consumption per head, and finally, a target for over-all real G.N.P. growth. Mr Low said that earlier assumptions had -in most cases proved to be wrong, mainly because of population movements.

The council chairman, the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) said the council should be in a position by November to bring together representatives of all exporting sectors to review export

targets, set new ones, and if necessary make a new assessment of the growth rate potential of the economy as a whole. “Although the outcome for cheese will mean some further diversification of the dairy industry, I believe it can be carried out without undue disruption,” Mr Marshall said. When and if an enlarged Community came to consider and adopt a common sheepmeats policy, New Zealand expected that the British Government would fulfill its assurance that there would continue to be adequate and remunerative access for lamb from traditional sources of supply.

Mr Marshall said New Zealand was still faced with the critical problems outlined by the council in its annual report to Parliament last month.

“New Zealand’s need is to obtain maximum export income in the long term, and this need presents a major challenge to those of us who are planning for the future. It is in this area where the N.D.C. can make its most pertinent and influential contribution,” Mr Marshall said.