In brief

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 3

In brief

Caygill in Geraldine The Minister of Finance, Mr Caygill, received a cool but polite reception at a public meeting in Geraldine last evening. About 60 people attended the meeting to hear Mr Caygill give his first public address since last week’s economic statement. The Minister defended economic restucturing, promised to control Government spending and reduce the deficit, and said that economic resurgence was being led by the regions. He said the Government’s strategy had gone a long way towards creating an environment for growth. But he warned that some problems were still to be fully addressed including the electricity industry, local government, and labour market reform. Silence demanded The Auckland Area Health Board has forbidden its management and hospital staff to talk to the news media. The acting general manager, Dr Winston McKean, said he would take a “serious view” to any contact with the news media. Even union representatives were forbidden from commenting on board policy matters. Hospital management could not now speak without approval from the board. The Combined Health Employees’ Committee said it was alarmed at the proposal and would take its concerns to the board commissioner, Mr Harold Titter.—PA Scarborough land sold A large block of residential land on Scarborough Hill, passed in at $650,000 when offered at auction earlier this month, has been bought by a Melbourne developer. The 1.142 ha site was sold on behalf of Sir Robertson and Lady Stewart. The land will be subdivided into seven residential sites. A spokesman for the auctioneers, Neumann Prier First National, Ltd, declined to disclose the sale price but said it was well in excess of the highest bid received at the auction on March 18. Seedgrowers’ levy cut A levy on seedgrowers has been scrapped this year by the herbage seed sub-section of Federated Farmers. The chairman of the sub-section, Mr Alex Wright, said • any levies already collected would be refunded. The decision not to collect levies this year was made after seed merchants wrote to seedgrowers, reminding them the levy was voluntary. The merchants also sought written permission to collect the levy. The sub-section would now consult with its members to establish the needs for future funding, he said. Dismissal questioned The dismissal of Rural Bank director, Ms Jenny Morel, is an attempt by the Government to remove any impediment to a quick sale of the bank, the Opposition believes. Ms Morel says the only reason she knows for her departure was for not being prepared to sign off the bank’s half-yearly accounts, which the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, says is another reason for calling off the proposed sale. Mr Bolger said the Government should not sell the bank until the farm sector had settled down.—PA Computer study An extensive international study on the use of computers for teaching and learning in schools will , involve 850 schools throughout New Zealand, the Minister of Education, Mr Lange, has announced. The study will focus on school policies, the types of computers in schools, how teachers use them and their attitudes towards computers. The schools involved have been randomly selected and are part of an international sample which will focus on equivalent levels in more than 20 education systems in North America, Europe and Asia.— PA