Govt ‘neurotic’ on growth

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 9

Govt ‘neurotic’ on growth

A Christchurch group opposed, to the proposed second aluminium smelter says that the National Party has become “neurotic" in its defence :of the party’s' “triirik big" policy. The ' group, the Christchurch . No Smelter Committee, was commenting on the refusal by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to release reports critical of the “think big” projects. Ms Karen Cronin, . a spokesman for the group, said that Mr Muldoon had been trying to sell the “think big” strategy knowing that it was a bad deal. He had spent most of the election campaign denying that the reports existed. He had now admitted that they existed but had said that he would not release them.

This had brought the issue of public accountability to the forefront of the election. What had to be asked was whether the Government could be trusted to co-oper-

ate openly and honestly in the matter of development decisions or whether it preferred to make secret deals with foreign multi-national companies withput consulting the people.