Conference remits

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 3

Conference remits

PA Wellington Remits discussed in committee and accepted by the full session of the National Party conference in Wellington included:

• The Government investigate the possibility of establishing radar posts to assist in monitoring and controlling illegal fishing and drug trafficking.

• The National Government commit itself and New Zealand to a planned reduction in Government expenditure, in real terms, over each of the next 10 vears.

• The Government agrees to the establishment of a private television channel to replace one of the existing two State channels. • The New Zealand flag be flown and the National Anthem be sung at all schools each week..

• The Government prohibit the export of live opossums. • Strikes which affect the inter-island ferry service be prohibited to maintain the essential prosperity of the South Island and maintain New Zealand as one unit. • Unemployment benefits be paid on a graduated scale. • Identification photographs be part of a driving licence. • The Government be asked to object in the strongest possible terms and press for an international treaty at the United Nations to ban the

disposal of nuclear waste by any nation outside their immediate national boundaries.

Among remits put. but rejected by committees, were: • Contraceptive advice be available to anyone at any age (lost on a 46-34 vote).

• A sunset clause be included in each new piece of legislation “being appropriate to the extent of its usage."

Other . remits before the full conference included one on Quangos (Quasi-Autonom-ous Non-Governmental Organisations). Delegates agreed that the Government should apply the sinking-lid policy to Quangos “with a view to abolishing overlapping or duplication of responsibility, ensuring that only people of relevant qualification are appointed to committees." The remit said that where expenditure of public funds was involved, the committees should be directly accountable to Parliament.