Labour promises consumer ministry

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 5

Labour promises consumer ministry

A Labour government would establish a Ministry of Consumer Protection, said the Labour Party's spokesman on consumer affairs. Mrs Ann Hercus. when she presented the party's election policy on consumer affairs in Christchurch yesterday.

She said. "It makes plain common sense to have all relevant consumer legislation administered under one roof, not scattered as it is now across many Government departments.” The proposed ministry would co-ordinate present staff and finance devoted to consumer matters with no added cost to the taxpayer. It would enhance the work done by the Consumers' Institute and would provide a single-minded consumer voice in the Cabinet.

The proposed ministry would initiate and co-ordi-nate consumer-law reform and would start consumer-

rights campaigns based on the success of similar promotion by the last Labour government.

The proposed ministry would also establish more Small Claims Tribunals and would increase the present limit on claims allowed to be heard bv the tribunals.

It would also "get stuck into the areas of misleading advertising, wasteful or deceptive packaging. and worthless guarantees."

Special attention would be given to consumer contracts, which should be written in clear language, which should fairly and clearly explain consumers' rights and responsibilities. and which should contain no traps in the small print.

The running of credit-card systems would be looked at to ensure that fair trade practices were observed and effective consumer repre-

sentation would be promoted on appropriate statutory boards, commissions, and tribunals. Mrs Hercus said. "There are so many other areas for Labour's Ministry of Consumer Protection to pick up and run with: flammable fabrics. labelling, date stamping, disclosure of the true rate of interest in hire-purchase agreements on the front page of any agreement. The list is a long one."

Mrs Hercus said that Labour's wider consumer policy included reducing the rate of inflation, providing growth in the economy, and restraining Government charges.

Labour would reintroduce subsidies on basic food items, such as milk, bread, and sugar, would provide concessional interest rates for housing. and would adopt a prices-and-incomes policy.