‘Time for coalition govt may be here’

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 4

‘Time for coalition govt may be here’

New Zealand may have reached the point where a coalition government should be formed, according to the president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce ;(Mr A. G. Williams).

; He was speaking at the chamber’s monthly meeting in Christchurch last evening. * In the past, during times of •national crisis such as wars and the Depression, political -parties had forgotten their differences and formed a coalition, said Mr Williams. “With the present problems •of energy, unemployment, inflation, industrial strife, exports and balance-of-payments problems, are we at the stage where a coalition Government would be in the country’s interest?” Mr Williams asked. Instead of “playing politics in Parliament,” politicians could “get on with the job of running the country,” he •said. "There are good men in both parties, their potential wasted by petty arguing on •You said that’ or ‘You did this’.” Mr Williams suggested that political opportunists and publicity seekers be left to argue “to their hearts’ content” in a separate chamber. “Then the best politicians would not have to waste time listening to them.” The entire country was losing while the Government was on the defensive and the Opposition tried to make political capital. “New Zealand has a great future, but we will not succeed when party politics take so much time,” Mr Williams said. “Is it time to form a coalition Government?” Energy report New Zealand should aim eventually to become selfsufficient in energy, according to a report presented last evening by the chamber’s energy resources committee chairman (Mr H. A. L. Wily).

The committee had been asked to report on shortages of various types of energy. It ended the report with a num-

ber of conclusions. First, it said, the attainment of energy self-sufficiency was by no means impossible, and it should be a long-term goal. Second, substitution of one non-renewable resource for another would never be effective in the long-term. It was essential that the development of renewable resources be pursued actively. Industry should be encouraged to use coal and Maui gas in the North Island and liquefied petroleum gas in the South Island. Similarly, motor-vehicles in the North should be encouraged to use compressed natural gas, while those in the South should use L.P.G.

There should be progressive electrification of railways, and the development of small battery cars should be encouraged. The report said coalconversion plants would be needed in the interim. In accordance with the report’s recommendation, the chamber voted to approach the Ministry of Energy. It will ask him to allocate for South Island use “fully adequate quantities of L.P.G. at competitive national price,” and ask that he “impress on other Ministers the importance of regular and reliable deliveries.” Drivers’ strike

Grave concern was expressed by the chamber’s vice-president (Mr A. F. Crothall), that the drivers’ strike came so hard on the heels of action by railwaymen and tanker drivers.

“These men are putting their fellow union members out of work by their actions,” he said. “Not only are people going to be laid off if these strikes continue, but our export drive is going to be seriously affected.” New Zealand already had a bad reputation overseas for

failing to deliver orders on time. “These strikes are only going to aggravate the situation,” Mr Crothall said. Mr J. M. T. Greene was concerned that the South Island had in effect been singled out for special treatment by striking transport workers. “They must know full well the situation in which the South Island finds itself. To act as they have done shows not only irresponsibility towards their fellow workers but towards their country,” he said. Budget effects Doubts about the Government’s over-all economic strategy had been raised by the Budget, according to a report by the economic affairs committee. It said the doubts could best be illustrated by the sharp rise in Post Office charges and electricity charges before the Budget. These measures would raise business costs sharply at a time when business confidence was brittle, said the committee’s chairman (Mr J. M. T. Greene) in the report.

“We are not sure whether these rises are simply a revenue-raising gambit, or whether they represent anticipated cost rises in servicing these departments. We suspect the former is the case.” Mr Greene said the chamber had long argued for a switch from direct to indirect taxation. However, -an even system of added costs was preferable to piecemeal increases “from power to potters.” “There is more than a suspicion that these additional charges will be swallowed by our public services,” he said. The report recommended that the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce study a value-added tax system.