Peters’s loyalty pledge welcomed by Bolger

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 9

Peters’s loyalty pledge welcomed by Bolger

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

The April 1 pledge of loyalty from Mr Winston Peters was last evening welcomed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger.

But Mr Peters continued to make clear his economic views in a statement yesterday which rejects Government claims that Opposition promises on job creation will cost $3 billion. He said National had yet to finalise its employment policy for the next election, but it would not allow people to “rot” on the dole. “In 1990, it will be a straight choice between equity and monetarist cynicism,” said Mr Peters. “There is no way that I will allow the monetarist devotees of the Treasury and the Reserve Bank continue to inflict such pain on this country.”

Mr Peters has made clear in the past that he

regards National’s spokeswoman on finance, Miss Ruth Richardson, as a monetarist. Mr Bolger appeared on television’s "Frontline” programme last evening, repeating the threats that there might be no senior Cabinet posts for Mr Peters or Miss Richardson if they continued to feud in public. He said he believed they had learnt from the experience of the last few days. Asked if Mr Peters should consult Miss Richardson before speaking on economic matters, Mr Bolger said no member of Parliament could do this day-to-day, but all com-

ments had to be within the framework of party

policy. He reaffirmed that Mr Peters had been outside National policy in advocating a loosening of monetary supply. Mr Bolger said “discipline” and “maturity” were required of National members of Parliament who would gain senior posts in any Cabinet headed by him. Saturday’s pledge of loyalty from Mr Peters said the public argument over economic policy had been unnecessarily destructive and was regretted. It appeared to start from a series of misunderstandings, including the suggestion he fav-

oured increased Government spending.

This had never been mentioned by him, said Mr Peters. “I look forward to working closely with all National Party members of Parliament, to ensure the election of a quality Government under Jim Bolger in 1990,” he said.

Mr Bolger welcomed the statement and its support for his leadership.

“It would have been nice to have not had the squabble,” he said.

In the television interview, Mr Bolger rejected the Government’s claim of $9 billion in National Party promises, as “utterly untrue.”

Mr Peters said the claim of a National Government spending $3 bil-

lion on job schemes was a slander.

Initial costings suggested a real economic and social savings from community work projects, he said.

A sum of S4OOM in additional expenditure for long-term unemployed was indicated

Last evening, Mr Peters released a Treasury report which proposed $l5O million be cut from postschool education and training. The report was compiled last November.

It was clear the proposal was still very much alive, in spite of increased numbers of students and trainees, said Mr Peters.