David Caygill working towards an egalitarian New Zealand

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 27

David Caygill working towards an egalitarian New Zealand

David Caygill refuses to be pigeon-holed in the Labour movement — he. rejects both words, “socialist" and “social democrat." “These terms are hot selfexplanatory in the New Zealand context." he says. “You might use them interchangeably at a Labour Party meeting where people know what they are talking about, but Bill Rowling was absolutely right at Timaru when he said the terms were not understood in New’ Zealand. There is not a recent history here'of intellectual discussion which would serve to explain them." “I'm less concerned with differences of nuance or emphasis in the Labour Party.” he says, “than with what marks’all of us out from the Nationalists." He believes that everyone in the Labour Party accepts that New Zealand'ought to remain a mixed economy in. which the private and Statesectors are both important "It seems we are now different from significant elements in the National Party who seems to be saying that the State sector should be markedly reduced." “It is time for a counterattack." he says, "against the Friedman / Thatcher. Reagan conservative philosophy. It's time we got the whole question of ’the Government's role in perspective. The idea that if we could get the Government off our backs we'd be better off is hogwash. The problem is not Government spending — inflation and unemployment problems relate to the’ size of the Government deficit. If the Government makes cuts in health, education and welfare as it intends to. a lot of people are going to get hurt." Like his colleagues. David Caygill rejects . the “Christchurch cabal" label. “Ann. Geoff and I don’t operate as a group at all," he says, "but we are associated in'people's mind because of our common legal background and the fact that we

were elected about the same time from the same city. That's the beginning and end of it." He agrees that they are all staunch Rowling supporters too. and that they have each been tipped as future' leaders. But he does not subscribe to it in his own case. "That's unfair to a lot of other people." he says. "Bill is the leader and is likely to remain so for a long time. For several years. So it is a pointless exercise, idle ' speculation." (One who named David Caygill as a future Labour > leader is Mr Muldoon but Mr Caygill sees this as a Machiavellian attempt to belittle other Labour luminaries by naming an unlikely one as likely to succeed.) David Caygill bristles a bit at being lumped in with the “academics" who are seen by some to dominate the parliamentary party. He does not see himself as one. and protests that he has actually done manual work (a holiday job). But his background is definitely not cloth cap. He is the son of a Fendalton stockbroker. and it must have seemed the most natural thing in the world for him to join the Young Nationals when he was a senior student at Christchurch Boys' High School. He became chairman of the St Albans Young Nationals in 1969. and although he soon switched his allegiance, that start in the other camp has dogged his political career. He regards it as a false start, and wishes it could be forgotten. By the time he stood for president of the students' association at Canterbury University he was a member I of the Labour Party — not i because of any blinding light seen on the road to Damascus, but because he i had registered as a conscien--1 tious objector to compulsory f military training, and found ■ . it.impossible to square that i with the National Party's

conservative stance on military issues. David Caygill says a large part of his personal philosophy in politics can be summed up in his grandmothers favourite adage: "A cat can look at a queen.” This he takes to mean that everyone is entitled to participate in our society. "It's not who. you are or what you are that should determine

access to things like education. health care, and the income you get. "I'm worried that we are moving backwards in that respect, from the time when almost all New Zealanders could be proud and kid themselves that they lived in an egalitarian society. “Not only is that not true, but significant sectors seem less interested in this being

an egalitarian society. I think it's fundamental. I'm not under any illusion that people are born equal or that they should be forced into the' same mould: what I am concerned about is that peoplb have access to such things as education, and the protection of society." A staunch upholder of the welfare state. David Caygill considers it has been eroded to some extent by the inaction and conservative policies of successive governments. As one who might one day lead the Labour Party and the country, what are his ambitions for New Zealand 0 First, he would like to see New Zealand become a more tolerant society. Because of economic pressures. he thinks we have become a society where people run each other down, and a number of groups, including solo mothers, immigrants, and women at home, are feeling very defensive - having to defend, not only their behaviour. but their very position in society. He is concerned about the attack being made by some people on the role of the Government. "We need to understand and advocate the proper role of the Government." he says. "The Government is what people have organised to do. The question is. to do what? We always need government to ensure that the environment is not polluted by those who are selfish and don't give a damn. We need it to keep an eye on business monopoly moves, and to do something about that — to control and regulate against monopoly power, which is an abuse of private enterprise." He thinks local government is a mess and needs reform if people are to be able to take local initiatives. Trade unions — a hot subject in the Labour Party at present — he sees as having a vital role to play, but being hampered by their public image and their own

organisation. There are too many unions, he believes. He favours worker participation too. and his own experience as a student representative on the university council convinced him that a union representative on a company board — while having little formal power - can be surprisingly influential if he is a strong advocate. "1 would like to see employees have an effective say in company policy." he says, “as distinct from having the effective say. It's been proved to be possible in other countries. For example. there's a union man on Chrysler's board." David Caygill says the changes he hopes for in all these areas would give people more control over their own lives — "so that when we talk of equality of opportunity, we don't mean that they are just welcome to dream, but that they have a real chance to get something good out of life." David Caygill says he does not consciously model himself on any other politician, but he has been greatly im--1 pressed by. Aneurin Bevan. > the post-war British Minister : of Health. "He's a Welsh coalminer, and I'm part ■ Welsh. I admire his brilliant ■ oratory — he was a genuine i match for Churchill — and I ; admire his achievement in ■ setting up the National . Health Service." i In his own political circle, i he is a sincere admirer of i Labour's present leader. "I ’ greatly enjoy working with ; and under Bill Rowling." he I says. "That's not just being ’ supportive — I enjoy his [ personal style. Once he's given ’ out a task, he en- • courages one to get on with > it. That's why I support him." ; He does not blame Mr Rowling for the party's three t electoral defeats in a row. "I don't know anyone who ; blames him." he says. "Some . say we lost despite him. He - brought us up from way i behind."