Labour to rely on overseas loans

Press, 21 November 1978, Page 3

Labour to rely on overseas loans

PA Auckland The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) said in Auckland yesterday that a Labour government would rely on overseas borrowing for at least three to five years. Mr Rowling could not put a figure on the likely extent of the borrowing, but said: “I’m bound to say it’s likely to be pretty substantial, at least in the short term.” He said later that the short term would cover (about three to five years. Mr Rowling also urged working people to “link arms” and defeat the National Government. He made the appeal when he addressed a sympathetic audience of about 300 on the Auckland waterfront. Mr Rowling said that the National Government was intent on driving a wedge into the working: movement so that it could “divide and rule.” The only ultimate strength of working people was their collective strength, he said. “Never in the history of New Zealand has there been a time when there has been a greater need for the Labour movement as a whole, political and . industrial, to stand together to get rid of this lot, and once more set New Zealand on a reasonable path.” Mr Rowling said that industrial law under a Labour government would be fair, and would allow industrial parties to negotiate without interference. He promised to abolish the “bits and pieces” of law the Government had brought in “through the back door” in the Commerce Act and Security Intelligence Service legislation. “Legislation of a kind which gives incredible politi-

cal power to a single politician has no place in a coun- : try that is supposed to be a democracy,” Mr Rowling : said. Auckland would get < caught up in the same econ- j otnic decline affecting other ] parts of New Zealand. If National Government was re-elected, he said. 1 Mr Rowling said that Auckland had not been hurt ] as badly by recession as the ] South Island, or the provin- , cia) towns of the north. < The sheer size of Auckland had allowed it, to some ■ extent, to live off its own fat, but if New Zealand con-; ( tinued on its present course Auckland would be affected i too, he said. Lawyers acting for the , Labour Party are considering methods of legally challenging poll results in electorates ; where special votes are dis- . allowed. An Auckland Labour Party ■ official, Mr K. Hastings, has forecast legal battles if spe- ] cial votes are disallowed. - Two legal experts have been asked to consider what type of Supreme Court action the party could take. Mr Hastings said yesterday that the lawyers were examining the possibility of an injunction, or other type of proceedings, to challenge the decision of a returning officer.

The party is upset because the Returning Officer has refused to allow scrutineers to be present when special votes are checked and possibly disallowed. Dr Barry Gustafson, the top Labour official who shocked many fellow members by predicting a landslide National win weeks ago, is now saying “Labour’s looking good.” Dr Gustafson, a Labour Party regional president and

university political scientist, said yesterday that it was impossible to divorce himself from his two roles, but “I’m trying to be as honest as I was two weeks ago, and project as honest a view as 1 can.” Three factors had contributed to his present optimistic view. “First, Bill Rowling’s campaign has been excellent. He has been calm, dignified, and confident,” Dr Gustafson said. This compared with a lacklustre performance by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). Second. Labour had the best organisation at all levels it had had for years, and party unity could be contrasted with splits in the National Party in Albany and Pakuranga, among other seats. Dr Gustafson also said that there was “a very real movement of voters against the Government.”