Mr Jones unconcerned after party facts leaked

Press, 20 August 1983, Page 1

Mr Jones unconcerned after party facts leaked

PA Wellington A businessman and political aspirant, Mr Bob Jones, said yesterday he was not concerned that Government members of Parliament had leaked some of the policies of his new party, but it indicated that the Government would use “every strategy in the book” to destroy it.

“There is only one way to knock us off, and that is (for Government members) to carry out their own principles,” Mr Jones said.

Earlier a document had been produced in Parliament by the M.P. for Rangiora, Mr D. F. Quigley. “I have something here from Bob Jones’s party. It fell off a truck,” he said.

Copies of the paper, headed “confidential,” were distributed in the Parliamentary. press galleiy by the Taupo M.P., Mr R. N. McClay. Mr Jones said the paper was not the same document as his party’s manifesto which will be launched on Monday. There were some things in it similar to policies in the manifesto and some dissimilar. The purpose of Mr Quigley’s “outburst” was to destroy the embargo under which some members of the press had been given the manifesto, Mr Jones said. He said he knew how Mr McClay got the paper, but declined to disclose that information. Anybody would be able to spy on the activities of his party, he said. “Anyone can join us, pay their $lO fee and no doubt find out what is going on. It doesn’t worry me.” The four-page paper indicated that the new group would be'called the ’’New Zealand Party” and Mr Jones confirmed that. He said the party would register the name next week. The policies of the new party, according to the summary, include abolition of unemployment benefits and student bursaries, a direct taxation limit of 30 per cent, an end to death duties, and the abolition of unemployment. A spokesman for the party described the paper as a memorandum and said it was almost certainly out of date. Journalists who saw the document also said it seemed to be a first or second draft.

The paper promised a two-pronged attack on unemployment by increased economic activity and better education standards.

economic activity and Better education standards. “Economic policy will solve the problems created presently by unemployment. A public works programme, which will be open-ended, and a landscape enhancement commission for beautification of the environment will be established.” The paper added the party would not let the Government trade in the market place. It would erect barriers to protect manufacturing industries, introduce an “honest” exchange rate and remove controls, regulations and restrictions. The eligibility for welfare benefits would be “much less accessible.” It said a climate to make citizens independent and self-sufficient would take care of many of the present needs for welfare payments. “There will be generous, tax incentives for contributions to the private health schemes. Criminal offenders will lose their rights to .benefits,” the paper said. The party would abolish , double taxation on company dividends and abolish capital taxes, including death (duties. There would be no retrospective taxation measures.

“Capital gains will be treated as normal taxable income if the property is sold within five years. How-

ever, owner occupiers will be exempt,” the paper said. On housing, the paper said no more State houses would be built and existing houses would be sold gradually. “There will be one single first home finance available to all. Owner-occupier finance will be to 90 per cent of valuation, at 8 per cent interest per annum for five years.

“At the end of the five years the mortgage will be repayable and the homeowner must get private sector finance at the current market rates.” The document said the party intended to spend much more money on education, improve the teacherpupil ratio, lift the school leaving age to 16, and introduce tax deductibility for all private school fees. Work schemes for students would be started which would involve four hours work a day. On agriculture, the paper said that supplementary minimum prices were “not necessary” but tax incentives for horticultural development would be re-in-troduced and criteria for Rural Bank loans would be examined. Lending would be .based on the net earning potential. The party would phase out “licensed blue water foreign access” to the exclusive economic zone and only New Zealanders would be permitted to fish the zone. There would be no programme to increase New Zealand’s population by immigration. ,r The criteria would be on the capital possessed rather than solely on skills. There will be active efforts to get affluent foreigners to New Zealand.” Immigrants from some non-traditional areas would be permitted to add enrichment and variety. A national referendum would be held during the next General Election to ask voters if they wanted the Parliamentary term extended, the paper sail