Employers’ chief sees better times ahead

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 9

Employers’ chief sees better times ahead

PA Wellington Talks of better times ahead were starting to have a ring of truth about them, said the president of the Employers’ Federation, Mr Garry Tait, yesterday. Opening the two-day conference of the New Zealand

Employers’ Federation in Wellington, Mr Tait said that in recent years the O.E.C.D. had been pessimistic about the prospects for world economic recovery. “But now, albeit in a guarded way, it is beginning to say that the pre-condi-tions for sustained growth

are looking better than they have at any time over the last five years,” Mr Tait said.

That sort of improvement on the world scene would bring benefits to New Zealand, together with benefits on the domestic front as a result of the wage and priced freeze, he said.

“With our rate of inflation down from 17 per cent a year to 4 per cent for the year to last December, there is certainly scope for renewed confidence in the business community,” he said.

“Inflation must, however, remain public enemy No. 1. It is vital if we are to remain competitive on the international market that we keep our costs to a minimum.

“This would enable employers to channel investments into productive areas so that real economic growth could be achieved,” Mr Tait said.