N.Z. ‘at the cross-roads’

Press, 13 November 1981, Page 19

N.Z. ‘at the cross-roads’

MR

A. J. SRHOY

This year’s General Election is 'the most important New Zealand has faced, says the Labour Party candidate for Ashburton, Mr John Srhoy. “We have. I believe, arrived at the cross-roads between either a massive industrial programme or one of balanced regional development.” says Mr Srhoy. It is time that electors look carefully at what the Government has done and to ask themselves the simple question of how much better off they were after the “socalled economic restructuring" by the Government, he says. The difference between the Labour and National parties has never been clearer, he says. Much of the difference is based on virtual nil growth during the last six years — six years lost through stagnation. "I would feel ashamed to be a member of Parliament representing the Ashburton electorate to see so many industries close bringing about high unemployment,” he says. “Opportunities have been lost to the extent that there are less people employed here than there were six years ago.” \ The middle of. the year saw the highest unemployment since the depression. The present Government has had six years of double-digit inflation, including record levels. “We enjoy, or otherwise, the highest level of personal taxation,” he says. “Figures show the highest public debt ever, combined with the greatest amount of borrowing in our history.” The present Government was the only government ever to double prices during its term and “quite frankly, we just cannot afford another term of National Government.” Labour's plan for develop-

mem is a oaianced. across-the-economy expansion, with particular emphasis on jobs and exports, he says. The programme will be implemented with an- even increase in investment throughout the economy. The party’s agricultural policy has been backed by Federated Farmers’ research and its small business policy is a carefully constructed programme of expansion for the economy’s biggest employment sector, he says. Labour has a commitment to settle more young farmers on the land, he says, and will implement a comprehensive package of policies with the specific aim of giving energetic young men that specific rignt.

A Labour government will immediately initiate discussions with Federated Farmers and other interested parties on the concept of a production incentive tax or factory tax, he says. “As Labour Party candidate for this electorate I would like to see strong.

effective representation," says Mr Srhoy. “For a whole decade the present representative has floundered round over the sugar beet industry, the closing of the 'Alford Forest Mill, and has treated farmers like country bumpkins, particularly in respect to irrigation and power prices. “If I were Ashburton’s member of Parliament I would never allow those situations to carry on. “Voters must make a definite decision on what they want in the Ashburton e lectorate — either to continue with an ineffective, safe seat or a marginal politically effective seat. The choice is theirs." Mr Srhoy, a town milk