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TASMAN

The president of the Labour Party, Mr W. E. Rowling, M.P., is being opposed in the new Tasman electorate by the National Party candidate, Mr G. H. Hunt, of Motueka. Both men are campaigning extensively in the large sprawling electorate which extends practically from one side of the island to the other and goes as far south as Springs Junction.

The Social Credit candidate is Mr J. B. Brinsdon, and the New Democrat Party will be represented in the election campaign by Mr G. K. Eggers.

"If you looked for what the country is placing as its number one priority at this time, it would be a proper degree of stability,” says Mr Rowling. He contends there are many areas in which New Zealand, although in an affluent situation, has fallen behind. “Our medical services have tended to run down again, particularly in the rural areas, more so than in urban areas,” he adds. “We have seen an erosion in the Social Security system; we are badly off in many areas for housing, and these signs are incompatible with what we properly regard as an affluent society. There is no shortage of work for a new government.” On the leadership of the Labour Party Mr Rowling says: “I have had the privilege of watching Norman Kirk grow and mature as a political leader, moving from relative obscurity as a back bencher in the Labour Party to a man who, whenever he is given equal political opportunity, quite dominates the political scene.

“Whenever people see him alongside the present Prime Minister, and the previous Prime Minister, no-one is left in doubt as to who is the dominant personality. “He is subject to news

media criticism and to political criticism — this is perfectly understandable. I can now remember a few Labour leaders and they have been subject to the same kind of criticism when they have been in office. “The interesting thing is they become almost semideities when they move on and are no longer leaders of the party.” Asked whether he would agree that there was a lack of strong issues in this election, Mr Rowling says issues are strengthening. “I would agree that over the last 12 months the situation tends to have been a little ‘furry’ or ‘clouded’. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that the Labour Party deliberately has not produced its own policy proposals, so it has been just a question of whether the Government has been right or wrong, effective or ineffective.

“But now policy issues are beginning to emerge and the housing issue is a case in point; a sharpness of division will emerge showing" that there are very real issues abroad.” Mr Rowling says Labour will make sure that people throughout New Zealand who have a social conscience are acutely aware of the sufferings of people involved in the housing shortage. “We will make people aware of the sale of New Zealand interests which is another facet of our life developing in quite an alarming way. “These are major issues which will very much affect the future of this country.” Asked what specific policies Labour would introduce to stimulate development, Mr Rowling says each region would have to be looked at separately. “You determine what things that region has going for it—what it has in the way of raw materials which would form the basis of a good solid industry about which secondary industries would build. “There is no better example than the West Coast which has very large deposits of coal, large deposits of ilmenite sands, considerable resources of beech timber, although I concede there is some argument here with the conservationists, but they are not insoluble. “It is on the basis of this type of resource you must build your industry. Given the resources what next is attractive to industry? The greatest requirements for an industry based on ilmenite sands is electricity at reasonable rates. “Here is a way in which Government can indicate to people interested in the industry to begin operations. “If we look at beech we find that the greatest proportion of timber is situated on Crown lands, so immediately the Government has a stake in the operation. But there has really been no decisive action on the part of the administration in these fields.” Commenting on the electorate he has represented Mr Rowling says: “It has been a fairly constant battle for both the major regions. The Buller end is still suffering from quite severe economic difficulties. “Lack of Government action has been a disappointment to me, particularly as there has been some local effort to get things moving. A joint committee put up proposals to the Government and relevant departments on development which we believe would have a major effect on industrial progress. “This did not meet with a . very sympathetic response either from the Government or the departments.”

Referring to the northern region of the electorate, Mr Rowling says the major issue is difficulties experienced by the tobacco industry. “I have made efforts on behalf of that industry on a non-party basis to introduce legislation into Parliament,” he says. “But these have been frustrated again by the Government for reasons which are, quite unclear to me because they admit that there is need for considerable structural reorganisation of the

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19721108.2.160.1

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 20

Word Count
887

TASMAN Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 20

TASMAN Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 20