Mrs Hercus favourite to head new Ministry

Press, 13 July 1984, Page 3

Mrs Hercus favourite to head new Ministry

General Election

By

MICHAEL HANNAH

In Wellington The Labour member for Lyttelton, Mrs Ann Hercus, looks likely to head a new Ministry of Consumer Protection if Labour wins the General Election tomorrow. Mrs Hercus announced the proposed new Ministry last evening at a campaign meeting in the marginal Wellington electorate of Ohariu, held by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Templeton. She is Labour’s spokesperson on consumer affairs and has clashed frequently with Mr Templeton over the effects of the lifting in February of the 20-month price freeze.

Mrs Hercus is also Labour’s spokesperson on women’s affairs, and hasi announced during the elec-; tion campaign that Labour would establish a new Ministry of Women’s Affairs. She would be the leading contender to head it.

In a speech at the meeting in Ohariu, she said the

new Ministry of Consumer Protection would be a small compact co-ordinating body to: 0 Initiate consumer law reform. • Co-ordinate consumer rights campaigns, similar to one sponsored by the last Labour Government in 1975.

• Promote the establishment of more small claims tribunals.

• Support work done by the Consumers’ Institute, especially its free complaints service.

• Promote effective consumer representation on statutory boards. “We will put teeth in consumer protective legislation in the monopoly, merger, and take-over area, in misleading advertising, deceptive packaging, fair product safety, and information provision,” she said. Mrs Hercus said that more effective and co-ordi-nated assistance for consumers was needed to help them know their rights and responsibilities under the law and where to go for help. ‘‘This small but effective

new Ministry will be a symbol not only of Labour’s commitment to a fair deal for all consumers, but a practical ‘one stop shop’ for co-ordinating consumer protection,” she said. She maintained that the proposal would contrast with the National Party’s efforts, which included a Competition Bill, reportedly aimed at improving the law covering monopolies, mergers, and take-overs, which had ended up “in the shredding machine.” The Government had taken no action on consumer law reform in other areas such as misleading advertising or pyramid selling.

The freeze had been a “shambles,” the price thaw pushing inflation up to double-digit figures, she said.