Caygill given cautious backing

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 1

Caygill given cautious backing

By

PAM MORTON

The Labour Party’s CentreRight Backbone Club says it will back Mr Caygill as the new Minister of Finance as long as Rogernomics is carried through. “We accept Mr Caygill’s public statements that he intends to continue on the same path as that set down by Mr Douglas,” the club’s convener, Mr Ron Bailey, said yesterday. “We welcome that from him and support him in that regard.” Mr Bailey said the club wanted to see Mr Douglas back in the Cabinet.

“He has been the architect of our economic salvation and we are troubled that he is no longer there.”

The re-election of the Labour Government was largely a statement of faith in the integrity of Mr Douglas, he said. Mr Bailey said recent events had had a destabilising effect on the Government and the nation. The Backbone Club had been formed to lend support and encouragement to the administration in the face of criticism from “extremist” elements within the Labour Party, Mr Bailey said. “It is surely time for a more rational and considered approach to policy formulation and implementation in the tradition of collective Government responsibility. “The country expects no less from a Government which has until recently demonstrated remarkable unity in the face of hard decisions necessary to regenerate the New Zealand economy after the wasted years of the last National administration.”

Mr Douglas will address a public rally in Auckland tomorrow, organised by the club. The 12.30 p.m. meeting will be chaired by Mr Trevor de Cleene. Mr Richard Prebble will also speak. Mr Bailey said the former Minister of Finance would be speaking on his future within the Labour Party. The Backbone Club believes the future of New Zealand is locked into the future of Mr Douglas. “With Wednesday’s critical caucus meeting so close, people who attend (the rally) may find themselves involved in ah historic event,” he said.

“People are concerned at what’s happening. They want to know what the future holds. The Backbone Club believes the public should know whhat is going on and that is why we’ve organised this rally." Mr Bailey said the rally had been organised to give Mr Douglas a platform from which to make a statement.

“I understand that Mr Douglas has some other worth-while comments that he wishes to make.”

The rally will be held in the Chase Plaza office building.

Further reports, pages 2 and 8