Govt policy not for barter

Press, 23 August 1984, Page 1

Govt policy not for barter

By MICHAEL HANNAH in Wellington The Government will not barter policy at the economic summit conference next month, said the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, yesterday when he gave the names of those invited to the conference. Mr Lange said the delegates at the conference would be expected to “come together, lay an awful lot of bogies to rest, and make a commitment.” They would not, however, be a policy-forming body. Mr Lange considered it was the Government’s duty to put to the conference an outline of the Government’s policy objectives, while the conference delegates would be expected to commit themselves to the steps required to fulfil that objective. The conference would, however, have an impact on

the Government’s thinking. “It will have an impact on what steps we take,” Mr Lange said. The conference was designed to establish a new style of government, to build on a mood which seized the country after last month’s election, and pursue a path of co-operation and understanding while at the same time instil a “very considerable sense of realism” into New Zealand. “New Zealand must gain a better understanding of what our economic state is now, what the issues are, and how they affect all New Zealanders,” Mr Lange said. The list of invited people includes representatives of producers, women, commerce, industry, unions, universities, transport, youth, finance, welfare, local government, and planning groups, as well as. individuals whom Mr Lange said

were invited because oi their “conspicuous commitment to business in this country” and involvement in a wide range of social and community activities. Companies and unions represented are largely balanced with each other in banking, forestry, engineering, construction, meat, brewery and local government. Representation goes wider, however, as there are 22 companies represented on the list, along with representatives of the manufacturers, employers, and retailers groups and 27 representatives of separate unions, the Federation of Labour, and the Combined: State Unions. Union representation includes the entire national executive of the F.0.L., as well as unions not affiliated to the F.0.L., such as the Bank Officers’ Union and

the Federated Local Authorities Administrative, Clerical, Professional, Technical Officers and Other Employees’ Industrial Association of Workers. The latter union is among a group which have allied themselves outside the F.0.L., led by the secretary of the Electrical Workers’ Union, Mr Tony Neary. Mr Neary was not included in the list of delegates, and, though he said he was not angry at being excluded, he considered his exclusion was “rather noticeable.” However, he was pleased that other nonaffiliated unions were represented. Mr Neary said that he would not want to attend as an observer. Mr Lange said yesterday that another list of about the same size, but of observers, was being compiled, which would include the presidents of the

three political parties represented in Parliament. Mr Lange said that there would be six Cabinet Ministers included in the conference, as well as himself as chairman, and the Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, as deputy chairman. It is believed that the six Cabinet Ministers’ seats will be taken by the economic Ministers, though others will attend according to the topics raised. Seven Christchurch people have been invited to attend the Government’s Economic Summit Conference. They are Professor A. D. Brownlie, chairman of the Vice-Chancellors’ Committee; Mr W. R. Cameron, Federation of Labour, Ms Louisa Crawley, member of the Advisory Committee on Women’s Affairs; Mr J. M. Greene, New Zealand Chambers of Commerce; Mr A. J. Kennedy, New Zealand

Meat Workers’ Union; Mr P. S. Phillips, managing director, Mount Cook Group; and Ms Peggy Coopman-Boyden, a member of the Government’s steering committee. Professor Brownlie said he had a dual interest and hope in the summit. “My own interest and contribution would partly be in regards to my role on the Vice-Chancellors’ Committee but also as a professor of economics,” he said. Professor Brownlie is a former chairman of the Monetary and Economic Council. “In the context of the matters to be considered is the contribution that universities are able to make, not only in the training of people but also in research and economic matters which are so important to this country’s future,” he said. Full list, page 3