‘Policies contrary to public interest’

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 17

‘Policies contrary to public interest’

There was strong evidence that the Government’s free market policies were often contrary to the public interest, according to the New Zealand Democratic Party’s Canterbury Regional Council. “While any real reduction in inflation is commendable, the Democratic Party believes that the Government’s fight against inflation relies excessively and wrongly on measures which have reduced the price of imports,” the council has claimed. There were “few signs” that the Government had the wage price spiral under control. "If workers are to be expected to show restraint

in wage demands, there would be much to be said for requiring projected price increases to be fully justified to the public before they are made. “News reports have referred to the lowest uncontrolled inflation rate for almost 15 years. “Voters should ask themselves seriously whether an uncontrolled inflation rate of 9.6 per cent accompanied by rapidly rising unemployment and no economic growth is preferable to a wage-price freeze which produced controlled inflation of 4 per cent accompanied by an 8 per cent real growth and falling unemployment,” the council said.