N.Z. Government policy gets ‘disaster’ label

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 17

N.Z. Government policy gets ‘disaster’ label

By

PETER O’HARA

NZPA London

New Zealand Government policy would spell “continued disaster” until the fundamentals were put right, the Federated Farmers president, Mr Brian Chamberlin, told a British audience last week.

Until now the performance of recent Governments in “getting on top of inflation” was disastrous, Mr Chamberlin said at a London function for agricultural journalists in Britain.

“They all should be

totally ashamed of themselves.

"We’ve got interest rates and an inflation rate that are still total disasters.

“Until the Governments, whoever they may be, or the parties, get the fundamentals right and stop spending and balance their budgets we’ll have continued disaster.”

Mr Chamberlin made his comments at New Zealand House after being challenged by one questioner who said it was unusal to see a farmers’ leader at one with his

Government. The acting High Commissioner Mr Roger Farrell, hosting the function on behalf of the Government, gave Mr Chamberlin the floor, saying “be my guest.” The Federated Farmers president started his response by noting he had often been critical of the Government.

He also said that if he had a message for farmers in Britain from farmers in New Zealand it was "there is life after subsidies, and, if we do have to change, farming will go on.”

Mr Chamberlin was en-

couraged during a tour of Britain to see that many farmers considered it was necessary to change their industry, even if some considered the change would be painful. “I have to say I am encouraged by the attitude many British farmers are taking to the current global agricultural

situation, where it is generally recognised that all of us who are involved in farming have to change, that we have to produce for a market and not for a series of Government subsidies or controls.”