Defence top priority at N.Z. Party conference

Press, 21 September 1984, Page 3

Defence top priority at N.Z. Party conference

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The first day of the New Zealand Party conference in Wellington today will deal with the issue that may attract the greatest public interest in the conference — defence. A remit from Western Hutt moves “That New Zealand maintain a neutral stance and withdraw from A.N.Z.U.S.” This is the most concise of a number of similar remits from throughout New Zealand seeking to cement the reputation of the New Zealand party as the “peace party.” Another from Hamilton East calls for the South Pacific to become “both a nuclear weapon-free zone and a military-free zone.”

In the same way that Switzerland is a world money centre, a Selwyn remit urges “a policy of positive neutrality to facilities such as an International Peace Studies Institute, and a world-wide information storage system, being located here resulting in New Zealand’s becoming the data bank of the world.” Selwyn also wants “foreign aid for the Pacific to be tied to the development of educational programmes and related facilities over a broad spectrum in consultation with the country concerned, so as to promote culturally and economically independent States less susceptible to manipulation by big Powers, and so as to decrease the growing subser-

vient reliance on New Zealand.”

The conference will occupy three days, beginning with an address by the president, Mr Malcolm McDonald, of Christchurch, and ending with an address by the party’s leader, Mr Bob Jones, of Wellington, late on Sunday afternoon. There are 40 remits before the conference on a wide range of issues. Several are likely to create wide public interest One calls for political polls, either formal or informal, not to be made public for one month before an election day, on the ground that these are often inaccurate yet can act as a selffulfiUing prophesy. Another calls for organisation of the New Zealand

Party so as to present “a public image of democratic discipline and responsibility.” The concern of the New Zealand Party during the election campaign during June and July at the coverage it was getting on television is reflected in a remit from Tauranga. It moves “That the Broadcasting Council be urged to give equal time during General Election campaigns on radio and television to all major political parties, whether or not they have representation in Parliament”

A “major party” would be defined as one contesting all seats and receiving a minimum average polling support of 10 per cent for six months before an election.