Mr Trotter disappointed at summit follow-up

Press, 31 October 1984, Page 8

Mr Trotter disappointed at summit follow-up

PA Wellington The leader of the group which set up last month’s economic summit conference, Mr Ron Trotter, said last evening that he was disappointed with the lack of follow-up. Groups representing all sections of society met at the Beehive seven weeks ago to swap ideas about putting New Zealand on the road to economic recovery. Mr Trotter, who chaired the conference steering committee, said that the real strength of the summit was the demonstration that

dialogue rather debate and confrontation could achieve a great deal more understanding. "It is frustrating, it slows things down, and it breaks the monopoly of the official to advise the Government because other people are having a say,” said Mr Trotter, chairman of Fletcher Challenge. “It is very easy to forget about it. So it needs strong leadership from the Government and it needs commitment from trade unions and from business to be involved in those sorts of discussions. It is very easy for it to fold up if there is not

continued support,” Mr Trotter said. “I think we should have moved more strongly immediately after the summit to explain to the people of New Zealand exactly what was decided.” He said that it was not too late to pick up the pieces. “We are talking about some years of readjustments in the economy.” Earlier, in an address to the Wellington Regional Employers’ Association, Mr Trotter said there was a lesson in the organisation of the consensus approach. “I believe we are going

through a period of technological change that will require a flexible and much less hierarchical organisation of work. “It will require new management styles and the evolution of new union attitudes and structures to best serve the interests of their members. To achieve these changes without bitterness and confrontation requires the development of understanding. “This will only be achieved by widespread and in-depth dialogue that achieves a consensus view and united plan of action,” Mr Trotter said.