New call for growth

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 6

New call for growth

The economic stagnation which characterised New Zealand in the 1970 s must be replaced this decade by economic growth, according to the chairman of the Planning Council, Sir Frank Holmes. Sir Frank said that the council believed New Zealand could have economic growth of at least 4 per cent a year in real terms. This would create more employment opportunities, and relieve some social problems that had been encountered recently. Sir Frank, who made the comments at a Palmerston North seminar on growth opportunities, will be in Christchurch today to take part in another seminar on growth, organised by the Department of Trade and Industry. About 60 persons have enrolled for the seminar, to be held at Mona Vale, but there is room for more who turn

up with the $45 enrolment fee, according to the organiser, Mr R. H. Wade, a former Ambassador to Japan and West Germany. Mr Wade said that the two seminars held so far had been stimulating and lively, with an interesting dialogue between Government Ministers and seminar participants. “The idea of the workshops is to show the possibilities that are open, and how to exploit them,” he said. One example of growth that had come to his notice was a printing firm which began in 1970 as a two-man concern, and was now employing 300 staff and exporting goods worth $3 million to the United States.

The seminar today will be addressed by the Minister of National Development (Mr Birch), the Associate Minister of Finance (Mr Cooper), and South Island businessmen. . * •