Mr Kirk emphasises social justice

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 1

Mr Kirk emphasises social justice

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, October 31.

Social justice, housing, and development were emphasised by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) when he opened the Labour Party election campaign in the Palmerston North Opera House tonight.

Mr Kirk emphasised policy proposals to hold Government charges such as freights, electricity and telephone charges during the first term of a Labour Government because of their effect on costs, and promised a rents appeal board and finance and house purchase proposals to deal with the housing situation.

“Every promise made by Labour we hope to achieve, and they will be kept,” he said.

Mr Kirk also pledged that Labour would remove the Remuneration Authority. Wage fixing should be done in agreement and through the Arbitration Court and not by a temporary body.

A Labour Government would govern in the interests of all people. Mr Kirk said It would listen to all but it would make the decisions. An overflow audience — with a small but vociferous group of interjectors — heard Mr Kirk. About 1100 people packed the Opera House and some 70 others followed his ad dress on television in an adjoining hall. There were a number of interjectors in several parts of the hall but most were from a group at the back—apparently "Mickey Mouse"; supporters — and the chairman of the meeting, the i Mayor CMr G. G. C. Elwood)! had twice to call for quiet! and on the second occasion threatened to have people re I moved. State of economy Mr Kirk said that the state of the economy, the mis management of the economy, was one of the big issues of the election. "Since the last election, prices have run riot. They are already 25 per cent higher than they were at the end of 1969,” Mr Kirk said.

“They will go up at least 6 per cent this year. Prices

are not coming down. They are still going up.” Mr Kirk said that the National Party had promised to manage the economy and it had broken its promise.

The twin problems of rising costs and reduced purchasing power and money called for sound financial policy, Mr Kirk said. Inflation undermined the strength and vitality of an economy.

Mr Kirk said that New Zealand needed to expand its production; it needed to improve its productivity.

"The answer lies not in restraining industry but "in increasing production,” Mr Kirk said. Labour policy was to ensure a steady rate of economic growth within a framework of full employment

Mr Kirk also said that the Labour Party had a comprehensive education policy aimed at ensuring equal opportunities in education and in providing a basis which made it possible to use equal opportunities throughout life. Relations bill Referring to the Industrial Relations Bill, Mr Kirk said that the Government had all the year to bring it before Parliament. The bill was in Mr Marshall’s hands in February and he referred to its introduction in the Speech from the Throne. "But the bill was not brought forward until the second to last day of the i session, and in a climate of comment by National Party 'Ministers that was obviously I designed to stir up industrial reaction, for political purposes,” Mr Kirk said. "That is irresponsible. No (one can justify trying to [create irritation for political i purposes.” Mr Kirk said that the bill had gone to a committee and a Labour Government would call the committee together early in the new year, and the bill would be dealt with in the light of the evidence and the need for good legislation that would promote industrial harmony. Mr Kirk said that the Prime Minister had stated that provisions were included in the bill to deal with the sort of situation that existed earlier this year in respect of the French tests. No power i Mr Marshall had said that •the Government did not have [any legal power to stop such actions, Mr Kirk said. But Parliament was sitting and [the Government could have i introduced legislation then | but it did not. I "The fact that it did not, land the fact that it only brought down such a provision on the second to last day of the session, highlights the Government’s intention to try to provoke industrial trouble for its

own ends during an election campaign,” said Mr Kirk. He said that health services had deteriorated steadily. By the end of the year it had been predicted that some 300,000 people would be covered by private insurance schemes taken out because public health services were not providing what they wanted and needed. Mr Kirk said that some districts had no doctors, and in other districts doctors were overworked. The only criteria of a person’s right to medical care ought to be the person’s medical need, Mr Kirk said. New Zealand’s health services should therefore be restored to achieve this principle. “Loyal team” Dealing with criticisms of the Labour “team,” Mr Kirk said it had a team that had never been closer knit and more loyal. It was a team that had shown complete trust in each other. He said that the average age of the Parliamentary Labour Party members was 49

years, and that of the whole team of candidates was an average of 44 years. This was nearly 10 years younger than the present National team. “Our party is renewing itself with younger men, new men, capable men,” Mr Kirk ; said.