Minister rejects accusations

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 15

Minister rejects accusations

Accusations that the liid u s t r i es Development 1 Commission’s impartiality had been damaged by two recent “political appointments” have been rejected by the acting Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Quigley). . The commission is studying the pcusible need for restructuring the plastics industry. The South Island branch president of the Plastics Institute (Mr M. P. Restall) said that the appointment of two active National Party members to the commission could damage its “hard-won reputation for impartiality” and its credibility. However, Mr Quigley said that the two members had been appointed because of their “particular attributes” and because of the contribution they could make to the commission.

asked, for the opportunity - to comment ou tlie commission’s report before it went to Treasury and Trade and Industry officials. Mr Quigley said this had still to be decided, but the practice was that an interim report w<is sent to the industry for comment and modification, j. ‘T personally hope that these matters would ‘be made available for. public discussion.” he said. Mr Quigley rejected criticism by the institute that public servants in the Treasury and the Trade and Industry Department were not qualified to make recommendations on the industry as they had no experience in industry. He said that public servants did not make the decisions. Politicians would take account of the industry and of the' public generally when they made their decisions, 'Mr Quigley said.