Labour view on smelter ‘unchanged’

Press, 30 May 1981, Page 1

Labour view on smelter ‘unchanged’

PA . Wellington The Labour Party leader (Mr Rowling) yesterday declared that his party's policy on the Aramoana aluminium smelter had not changed. Two senior Labour politicians, the Shadow Minister of Economic Development, Mr R. J. Tizard (Otahuhu), and a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr W. W. Freer (Mt Albert), yesterday lined up with their Dunedin Central colleague. Mr B. P. MacDonell, in supporting the smelter.

Questioned about the apparent conflict between the views of the three members and the Labour Party’s official policy, Mr Rowling told a news conference later that he thought the wording of the statement issued .by Mr Tizard and Mr Freer “was not particularly careful."

■ For some time the Labour caucus and the party’s policycouncil had expressed "very considerable reservations" about the whole proposal. "Indeed, such are the

reservations that as long as they exist we could not comtemplate supporting it,” Mr Rowling said. The party was not satisfied with power pricing arrangements, the lack of downstream operations, and the circumstances of the international market place. On the basis of this, the party had made it quite clear that it reserved the right to “renegotiate any contractual arrangement entered into between now and the change of government at the end of the year.” Mr Rowling said he expected there would be some contracts arranged by then. “We have got to take a

very practical stance on that basis.”

Asked if he thought Labour members of Parliament were unified in their attitude to the smelter, Mr Rowling said, "There is a variety of shades of opinion. There always has been on this question. But the policy which I have just re-ehunciated in fact has the unanimous backing of the caucus.” The Wellington motor union leader, Mr P. J. Kelly, said yesterday he was “amazed at reported support for the-proposed Aramoana aluminium smelter from Mr MacDonell.”

Stage three of the project, a foundry for building automobile componentry, would put about 10,000 to 15,000 workers in New Zealand out of work, Mr Kelly said.

It was obvious from discussions with Mr MacDonell on Thursday that he had not closely studied the proposal he supported. Mr Kelly said.

Earlier report, Page 3