Labour’s strength from South Island

Press, 2 April 1979, Page 18

Labour’s strength from South Island

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

When Parliament reassembles on May 17, a determined and invigorated Labour Opposition will be revealed. Two important points have emerged from recent Labour caucus discussions: 1. Much of Labour's strength in 1979 will come from its South Island members, those both experienced and new; and 2. Labour strength will involve a plan, to be introduced by the next Labour Government, to use the works and development programme to stimulate the economy. It could be said that the use of the works programme as an instrument with which to regain prosperity is a reversion to the strategy of the first Labour Government. History indicates that it has been significantly useful more than once, and can be so again. “The works programme was used by the first Labour Government to promote full employment and get the economy on the move again.” said Mr M. A. Connelly (Yaldhurst), who has been a member of Parliament for

Christchurch electorates for 23 years, and who was Minister of Works in the last Labour Government. Mr Connelly said that when there was a decline in private investment and spending in the term of the third Labour Government, and a threatened fall in private building and construction, housing and employment, “the works programme was deliberately expanded and directed at projects with a high labour and low import content to maintain momentum in the economy.” Asked if this would suggest a return to the "number five” scheme of Depression memories, Mr Connelly replied: “No. Our immediate object would be to eliminate unemployment. By eliminating that, we would eliminate all the abuses which have developed with it. Our aim would be to eliminate the idle capacity and reduced profitability being experienced by business in this country.” Mr Connelly, who is Labour spokesman for works and development, police, and defence, sees this as a prerequisite for providing a Government with the revenue necessary to enable it to sup-

port the social services necessary for the 1980 s and beyond. “It is nonsense to say that New Zealand cannot afford growing and expanding social services,” Mr Connelly said. “When New Zealand was much poorer than it is today, a Labour Government, by promoting full employment, industrial growth, and expansion, was able to accrue the revenues to enable it to provide a range of social, health, education, and housing services which made this country a focus of world attention. With a properly balanced economy we can do it again.” It is clear that Labour's impetus and drive for the next three years will come substantially from its South Island members. The recent allocations reveal that South Island members will have a strong hand in policy-mak-ing and decision formulation. Sir Basil Arthur (Timaru) has been made responsible for agriculture and fisheries during the indisposition of

.Mr B. G. Barclay (Christchurch Central), and is expected to push for the ultimate in overseas development, He also has the embattled transport brief, which he knows well as a former minister. Mr W. A. Fraser (St Kilda) who was Minister of Housing in the last Labour Government until replaced by Mr R. O. Douglas, is again Labour spokesman on housing, which is expected to become a key instrument of policy. Mrs M. Batchelor (Avon) who maintained a constant presence in matters affecting welfare, has been given responsibility for this sector. Mr N. J. Kirk. (Sydenham) has been given major responsibilities in transport, tourism, civil aviation, and law and order. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) has retained, his over-all role in regional and developmental matters, and has taken back responsibility for foreign affairs. Already this year Labour policy has produced

new developments in foreign affairs policy, including attitudes on foreign trade. The work of these and other spokesmen will be supported by that of other South Island members who have been elected to Labour caucus committees, including Mrs W. Tirikatene-Sullivan (Southern Maori), Mrs A. Hercus (Lyttelton), and Mr D. Caygill (St Albans). Other South Island Labour Members are developing their own lines of attack. The new member for the West Coast. Mr T. K. Burke, for example, can be expected to do well as a special pleader for his area, and also in the general field of education. The interests of Labour's South Island members develop from their concern in matters of poor service, exploitation, and uneven opportunity which, they allege, are working constantly against the South. In the words of one of them; “We shall make our views known on the needs for

energy, transport and regional development policies which would enable the South to develop its resources to the best advantage, and which would also enable South Island industries to compete on an equal footing it, the world’s major markets. What weshall be promoting is not the well-being of the South Island, but of New Zealand generally.” Other points that will be made later this year include: the need for efficient lowcost transport, the production and use of South Island resources in the South Island itself; and the proper functioning of a comprehensive regional development programme. “We believe that not only should we have the Cook Strait ferry and the air link, but that there should also be a service between Lyttelton and Wellington. We have also indicated the need for manufacturers in special categories, where electric power is a major factor in production, to obtain power at a special rate. “We also believe and maintain that liquid petroleum gas should be made available at all main ports of New Zealand at a uniform price.”

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