Unionist’s fears over more Rogernomics

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 8

Unionist’s fears over more Rogernomics

PA Wellington Another decade of Rogemomics will create a rich elite living in walled palaces with guns mounted on the parapets to keep out hordes of disadvantaged people, according to the national secretary of the Engineers’ Union, Mr Rex Jones. “If I sound emotional, it’s because people are hurting,” he told the Wellington Rotary Club.

“It is distressing to see the bodies littered on the road to the so-called new future,” he said. Rogemomics, with its attack on egalitarian principles, might leave behind an uncaring society which oppressed women, lowpaid workers and ethnic groups. There could be a lack of respect for the elderly and poor people might become more disenchanted with their lot, he said.

“I am getting tired of hearing Utopian speeches about the wonders of Rogemomics, coming from the new money of the finance sector in the imported suits and BMWs.” "I find it personally repugnant to see their wealth and political influence, especially when that is based on the political

decisions of the last three years.” These decisions had squeezed the manufacturing sector, its workers and their employers and made them "forgotten figures on the political landscape.” Manufacturing provided 20 per cent of jobs and was responsible for thousands more in transport, property, finance and business services, Mr Jones said.

During a time of rising unemployment, manufacturing should be encouraged to provide more jobs, work security and a decent standard of living for its employees.

Instead, traditional industries were being decimated and new ones were not being developed to replace them.

The “so-called” anti-inf-lationary policies and the timing of the deregulation of the finance sector had sent the wrong signals to the very industries New Zealand’s future depended on.

Mr Jones said a more competitive, dynamic manufacturing sector was essential but it required investment in technology, training, research, marketing and product development. “I don’t see that hap-

pening in an unpredictable, unstable environment like the present one, with its emphasis on speculative short-term investment.”

The Engineers’ Union was trying to develop a positive stance towards reform and wanted to encourage policies which would help industry plan its future properly.

There were several issues the Government should address “preferably sooner rather than later”, Mr Jones said. These were:

• A stable set of economic policies based on active management of the exchange rate.

• Fair and realistic tariffs.

• Advisory groups to develop an understanding of the long-term direction or industry.

• Appropriate back-up policies covering vocational training, research, development and marketing.

• A tax structure which did not discriminate against the producer in favour of the speculator. Mr Jones said he hoped manufacturing had not been destroyed by the time the Government realised its policies were wrong and was forced to intervene.