Voting National in ‘will destroy work’

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 8

Voting National in ‘will destroy work’

PA Invercargill Voting National to power would destroy all the economic groundwork Labour had laid to return New Zealand to prosperity, said the Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, in Invercargill yesterday. Kicking off his visit with a business lunch, Mr Douglas gave an election speech reminiscent of the instructions air hostesses give passengers before a flight: “In the event of an emergency, follow the instructions of your crew — they know what to do.”

In this case, “your crew,” was the Labour line-up, which Mr Douglas compared in flattering terms to National’s. Since 1984, Labour had "taken the political perversions out of business management” and refused to make economic decisions on the basis that they might win votes. Mr Douglas said it would be disastrous for New Zealand if National was returned to office. "They are still into ad hoc-ery of the worst possible kind, trying to get to

every interest group and promise them something.” Mr Douglas said his economic strategies were based on a long-term view of where he wanted the country to be. He started with the gbals of low inflation, low interest rates and very little debt, and worked out a reliable path to follow.

New Zealand was proceeding towards those ends, but they would only be achieved with a continuation of firm, consistent management.