Ashburton venue for party debate

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 3

Ashburton venue for party debate

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The debate on economic direction and employment policies within the Labour Government, has been deferred until a two-day caucus meeting is held in Ashburton on February 10 and 11.

In announcing the deferment of elements of the economic package announced on December 17, Mr Lange has postponed this pending debate. Problems with elements of the package and the growing alarm over unemployment have been building up pressure within the caucus. These matters can now be thrashed out at Ashburton. Some of the sessions will include an Aucklandbased “facilitator,” Mr Michael Gourley, of Human Synergistics N.Z., Ltd. “He is not a psychiatrist or a practitioner of the occult,” the Prime Minis-

ter, Mr Lange, said yesterday. Mr Gourley had helped when the Labour Party caucus had held a meeting outside Levin. nearly four years ago, where having an outside facilitator had worked very well. “We have not forgotten the lessons of four years ago, but we have a new wave of M.P.s since then and it will do no harm to have his managerial skills available again,” Mr Lange said. Labour’s caucus meeting will be held at the same time as the National caucus is having a meeting at New Plymouth. The Acting Leader of

the Opposition, Mr Don McKinnon, said Labour’s calling in of a facilitator was a public admission of the serious internal splits in its caucus and these would not be healed by a paid consultant. “Anyone could tell the Labour caucus what, it was paying a lot for a consultant to tell it — that it should tell the public the truth and stick to its pre-election commitments rather than follow its own secret agenda.” Mrs Jenny Shipley (Nat., Ashburton) said their stay in Ashburton would expose the members of Labour’s caucus to the real impact of their policies on a provincial community. The problems and potential of regions like Mid-Canterbury held the key to New Zealand’s economic recovery, she said. The Chief Government Whip, Mrs Margaret Austin (Lab., Yaldhurst), said she would try to avoid having a set agenda for the meeting. Those attending would include the Prime Minister and the president of the Labour Party, Mr Rex Jones.