Spats, policies on National’s agenda

Press, 30 March 1989, Page 6

Spats, policies on National’s agenda

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

Conflicting economic policies and personal spats between members of its front bench will be discussed by the National caucus at its weekly meeting in Parliament today.

Mutually exclusive views on economic direction were expressed by the Opposition finance spokewoman, Miss Ruth Richardson, and the Opposition employment spokesman, Mr Winston Peters, last week.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, reprimanded them for their public spat and said the matter would be dealt with internally. Today’s meeting is the first chance the National Party has had for a behind-closed-doors discussion.

“We are arguing through the details, arguing vigorously as we must and at times a little too publicly for our own political good,” he said earlier this week. But Mr Bolger has also been promoting views on economic direction that vary from both Miss Richardson and Mr Peters.

Today’s meeting is expected to discuss in greater detail what National’s “Path to

Growth” policy document from its three-day Auckland caucus meeting actually means. That document is now seen by National members of Parliament as being too general and in need for refinement so mutually exclusive policies cannot be taken from it. But this business of the caucus will be muddied by Miss Richardson’s claim about Mr Peters’ leadership ambitions.

Mr Peters has denied that Mr Bolger had accused him of “gunning for his job” and there was no evidence to suggest he had “gunned for the leader’s job.” He did not deal in hypothetical questions about his leadership prospects. “I think I am doing okay as No. 8 on our front bench,” he said. Mr Peters said he could not forecast what would happen at today’s caucus meeting, but he wanted

the matter of economic policy raised as it had to be settled.

The Labour Government is continuing to enjoy the spectacle of National disarray on economic issues.

A clear and concise statement was now needed from Mr Bolger setting out National’s economic policy, said the Minister of Finance, Mr Caygill. Today’s caucus would be crucial because the time had arrived to settle National’s confusion. Mr Bolger said a responsible National Government would rein in expenditure and stop draining the country’s economic resources with increased taxes and more borrowing.

National would be aware of unnecessary expenditure with a line-by-line analysis of each activity that required funding by the taxpayer.

What New Zealand wanted was a government that cared but did not interfere, he said.