Oil shortage emphasised in Speech from Throne

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33451, 5 February 1974, Page 3

Oil shortage emphasised in Speech from Throne

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 4. In her Speech from the Throne today, the Queen said she was pleased to have the opportunity to open the second session of the thirtyseventh New Zealand Parliament.

The objectives of the Government, in establishing its programme of action over the last year and for the coming session, stemmed from a concern to give all New Zealanders social justice and freedom, and law I and order, said the 1 Queen. Young and old should have a healthy environment to live in, with opportunities for satisfying work and leisure activities, a good and

decent standard of living, with adequate housing. Further, the Government accepted an obligation to help extend these rights to people throughout the world. These objectives depended on the achievement of a satisfactory rate of economic progress:

U.N. role

The Government would continue to promote a more effective role for the United Nations and would remain active in the search for genuine measures of arms limitation, including a comprehensive nuclear weapons test ban and the control and eventual elimination of all weapons of mass destruction. No major structural changes in New Zealand’s armed services were intended but the Government would ensure an ability to contribute to United Nations peace-keeping activities, and lalso a continuing and expanding capability to provide aid to the civil community. Special emphasis would continue to be placed on the needs of the Cook, Niue, and Tokelau Islands and it was proposed that the people of Niue might become self-gov-erning later this year. The enactment of a Niue Constitution Bill would depend on a referendum to be held in the island.

Export markets

The Government would build on the initiatives of the last year which have been aimed at diversifying export markets and products. Access for New Zealand’s primary products would be at the forefront of the Government’s approach to the new round of G.A.T.T. negotiations. Ministers were very concerned about the uncertain supply of a number of raw materials, particularly oil and products derived from it. A decline in the rate of the economic growth of I some of New Zealand’s main Trading partners was likely I and could limit the expansion of world trade. One of the most important bills to be considered this session would be that establishing the New Zealand ExI port-import Corporation.

Immigration

“My Government will en- I sure through its policies that 1 the economy is insulated, as far as possible, from the oil i crisis which affects energy re- i sources and the supply of raw materials. “However, because of this 1 situation an unprecedented rise in the prices of certain goods and services produced overseas has to be faced, and this will adversely affect costs in New Zealand. Some industries may have to consider using local resources which in the past have been regarded as less economic than the imported alternatives,” said the Queen. The introduction of an in-1 tegrated labour market policy i was being studied, and a bill designed to help employees acquire shares in the companies they worked for was being considered by a Select Committee of the House.

Additional suitable farmland will be bought for subdivision into economic farm units and for settlement. A wide range of legislation was proposed for the agricultural sector. Included would be legislation to improve the administration of the pig industry, a revision of the noxious weeds legislation consequent on the report of the committee of inquiry, and amendment to the Apple and Pear Marketing Act to assist the industry, and the introduction of a new pesticides bill. Forestry prospects were very favourable but it was imperative that more trees be planted.

Farm proposals

Oil search

The last year had brought’ a substantial increase in the' flow of migrants, particularly from Britain. Ministers were concerned to see that immigration policy was better designed so that it would support stable growth rates, but at the same time avoid economic or social strain. A complete review of the Government's immigration policy was being undertaken. Special immigration schemes would be implemented to alleviate specific labour shortages. I I The Government would! Continue to create the! i climate for the confident expansion of manufacturing in. (general, to provide selective (measures for the encour-i (agement of desirable growth! industries, and to ensure , that growth was better .spread throughout New Zealand. Stabilisation measures already introduced, would, the Government believed, enable expansion of manufacturing to proceed in a more settled climate. j To “promote stability, enhanced competition, and better information for the consumer,” the Government would introduce legislation lon trade practices, monopolies, and take-overs.

The shortage of oil had confirmed the earlier decision of the Government to undertake a major programme of on-shore and off-shore drilling this year. Development of the Maui natural gas field would be pushed forward with all speed. Exploration for natural gas and oil was being vigorously encouraged by the Govern-; ment on terms beneficial to ■ New Zealand and legislation! would ensure that this was; achieved. Priority had been accorded to research into new energy! sources. ■ Urgent consideration would be given to determine those areas in which indigenous j fuels could be substituted for ; imported forms, and a White (Paper on the New Zealand coal industry would be tabled during this session. Coal pro-i duction would rise 500,000’ tons. On transport. Ministers, would pursue a co-ordinated policy and would continue to! develop railway facilities toj meet increasing demand. Railway rates and fares would be held at existing levels this year.

J Speed limits

| The Government was conIcerned about the appalling (road toll. Speed limits would be rigidly enforced, there (being no doubt that a reduction in speed decreased the (severity of accidents. The (recommendations of the 1973 Select Committee on Road ;.Safety would be placed before Parliament as quickly as ( The committee would also ,be asked to report on the (possibility of the recent reduction in speed limits being 1 made permanent. Legislation was proposed to enable the Tourist Hotel Corporation “to be more .effective.” The Educational Development Conference would bring (forward recommendations extending from pre-school to

beyond the normal years of ; formal schooling. Legislative reforms and appropriate resources to give effect to this major review of education' would have a high priority. I New environmental procedures to apply to Govern-} ment works would be implemented from March 1 this, year. Also guardians would be appointed to protect areas j of particular environmental I significance. Ministers would} take further steps to facilitate the recycling of waste} products. Legislation to be intro-1 duced this year would rewrite much of the Town and 'Country Planning Act. The act would be simplified and greater emphasis given to the protection of the environment and to the rights of the} individual. The number of State houses completed in the last year had risen more than 25 per cent, and total housing! construction was a record. The Government intended to achieve a substantial increase in the coming year. The State Advances Cor-i poration would continue to, be provided with adequate ( funds for the building of new homes, the purchase and im-' provement of existing homes and, as necessary, the re-’ financing of mortgages to alleviate hardship.

Social work

This year would bring legislation to provide for a new approach to preventive and social work services for children and young persons. The Children and Young Persons Act would replace the Child Welfare Act, 1925, and its numerous amendments. A system would be introduced for the regular adjustment of social security benefits. The New Zealand Superannuation Bill ultimately would give New Zealanders retirement incomes which would enable them to maintain the standard of living they were accustomed to. j The Government was | determined that those who! (needed medical services were 1 [given the highest standard of scare with the minimum of (delay and cost. A comprehensive examination of (health resources and their (administration was planned. ( A bill to repeal and re-1 place the Narcotics Act,; (1965, would be introduced as the first step in the re-1 construction of drug legislation.

(Maori affairs

1 A major revision of the [Maori Affairs Act and the, (restructuring of the Depart-1 ((ment of Maori and Island! '( Affairs to meet the changing’ '(social needs of the people (would be promoted. '( The growth in trading in l|New Zealand antiquities had (become so marked that, not’ (only was precious historical! !material being exported, but! .(sites were being plundered. ,!and damaged. New legisla-i jition would give added pro-( .(tection to artefacts and sites.! . A further local govem- : ment bill this session would ramend and consolidate into; J one act the Municipal Cor-j 1 porations Act and the Coun-j -(ties Act. Local bodies would si be made subject to the .Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

)[ j Liquor review

,! There would be a complete ’(review of liquor legislation Rafter the report of the, j. Royal Commission on' ei Liquor. i Bills to revise the .(matrimonial property law( g(and to provide some pro- . (tection of the privacy of the o|individual were planned.