Lange cites social policy poaching

Press, 16 December 1988, Page 4

Lange cites social policy poaching

By

BRENDON BURNS,

political reporter

Trespassing into social policy by Roger Douglas was the issue which led to his dismissal, the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, indicated yesterday.

In radio interviews Mr Lange also appeared to describe Mr Douglas’ views as extremist.

He quashed the hope of Mr Douglas that the leadership vote wait until the new year, saying this would allow more destabilising. But Mr Lange still managed to appear restrained in most of his comments. He refused to be specifically drawn on most of Mr Douglas’ charges of acting unilaterally without Cabinet support on a number of occasions this year. However, he did rebut the claim that he had spoken publicly in June about a $3.2 billion Budget deficit, when in the view of Mr Douglas this had been substantially reduced by the Cabinet a week earlier. Mr Lange, agreeing with an interviewer on radio’s "Morning Report,” said the move of Mr Douglas into social policy in the December 17 economic package had been the start of their problems.

“I think the issue is that, as I have said for a long time, it is not a question of personalities, it’s a question of policy and I have a view for New Zealand which is a view which is not an extremist view.” Extremism at both ends of the political spectrum was to be rejected, he said.

Mr Lange confirmed his desire for the leadership issue to be resolved next week and not wait until the scheduled vote early in the new year, as Mr Douglas would prefer.

“I have read now where Roger’s view is that another six weeks of destabilising would perhaps produce a different outcome. I think that would be regrettable.”

He said it was extra-

ordinary that a great calm had descended on' New Zealand and international financial markets in the wake of the dismissal of Mr Douglas. “Now, I believe that my colleagues will have to face up to the challenge of what it means to put that calm in jeopardy.” Mr Lange rejected the calls of some newspapers and the Opposition for a snap election. He said the Government had much to do and a tremendous team for the tasks required. Reflecting a theme expressed earlier in the week by the Minister of External Relations and Trade, Mr Moore, he said for the Government’s bickering to continue would be selfish and indulgent.

Recriminations about the past was now out as far as he was concerned.

But in a separate interview, Mr Lange chose to specifically reject one of Mr Douglas’ claims.

He said it was not correct that he had suggested a $3.28 Budget deficit projection when the Cabinet had already decided on action to reduce this to $1.48.

The Cabinet went through the figures and made its commitments the following week, said Mr Lange.