Labour ‘better prepared’

Press, 20 June 1984, Page 8

Labour ‘better prepared’

Labour was better prepared for office this year than it had ever been, said the member of Parliament for Papanui, Mr M. K. Moore, last evening. Mr Lange would be able to call on six members who had had Ministerial experience. Michael Joseph Savage’s Cabinet had had no experience, and Norman Kirk had had only one Minister with previous experience, Mr Moore, who is convener of the committee of transition and Labour’s campaign manager, told the Belfast Rotary Club.

“For 18 months the committee of transition has closely studied the needs of a fresh government. Extensive research in New Zealand and overseas has resulted in a major report on the demands of government,” he said. Mr Moore said he had personally spoken to key members of the Hawke Government, and visited the

Cain Victorian Government, the South Australian Bannon Government, and the Wran Government in New South Wales, and had leaned heavily on the ideas from Canada, Britain, and the United States. “Our work has drawn on the experiences of other Labour governments as well as new Conservative governments. Governments with fresh ideas need to think very carefully through their programme,” he said.

“This preparation for office has been an exhaustive and deliberate study of how Labour can be a good, sensible, long-term government of New Zealand. Our ambition is to become the natural government of New Zealand.

“We are ready, willing, and able to take office, understanding fully the economic restraints and administrative needs of governmental responsibility.”