Forestry corporation under Nat. scrutiny

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 26

Forestry corporation under Nat. scrutiny

PA Wellington A forestry corporation would be considered for privatisation by a National Government, the Opposition spokesman on State corporations, Mr Don McKinnon, has said.

There would be no “selling off’ of the country’s assets, he said, but there would be analysis of the way the corporation was

functioning, and employees’ views would be canvassed. A paper listing National’s economic objectives, released two weeks ago, said the party would give New Zealanders the right to invest in Government cor- 1 porations, companies and trading organisations. That would be achieved through sale to private and employee ownership. ,

A forestry corporation is being set up as a result of the shuffling of some existing Forest Service functions to the proposed department of conservation. The Government announced last week the corporation would be a fully commercial venture empowered to grow and harvest trees, and to process, market and distribute wood

products. Mr McKinnon commended the Government for its decision. “While the Government may be sacrificing some influential control, the fact is the corporation will be expected to get the best return for all New Zealan-‘ ders from the assets for which it has responsibility,” he said.