Government buoyant, Opposition subdued

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 2

Government buoyant, Opposition subdued

By

OLIVER RIDPELL

in Wellington

A buoyant Government and a subdued Opposition listened to the Budget being read in Parliament last evening. At least part of the Opposition’s quietness was attributed by National MJ’s to the Government “pinching so many of our policies." Only at the end, when Mr Caygill spoke of his “pride in this Government” and said, “we’ve been through a lot in the last five years,” were there catcalls and jeers from the Opposition. His reading of the Budget was punctuated with cries of “Where’s Roger?” many of them from another former Minister of Finance, Sir Robert Muldoon. The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, got in a vigorous handshake with his Minister of Finance and was plainly delighted at the funds available for education. It was Mr Caygill’s first formal Budget — his miniBudget in March was described as “a financial statement” —' and it was a stylish affair. The documents were delivered during the afternoon from the Government Printer in a horse and cart, with GJP.O. staff dressed in nineteenth century clothing — to celebrate 125 years of Budgets. Mr Caygill handed bound copies to the leaders of both Opposition parties — Mr Jim Bolger (National),

and Mr Jim Anderton (New Labour). His trek up the back of the Chamber to where Mr Anderton sits was greeted with applause and loud laughter. The Budget and its associated documentation were brought into the Chamber in two red boxes — an innovation. ' There was consistent Government applause as Mr Caygill read it out, with only occasional interjections from the Opposition. Some of the Budget’s more political effusions, such as that New Zealand was experiencing the benefits of low inflation, brought comments such as “where?” and “what are they?” When Mr Caygill described Labour as “a compassionate and responsible Government,” the Opposition responded with loud guffaws. One person not present in the Chamber was the> former Minister of Finance, Mr Roger Douglas. His; family in Auckland said he was in bed, very unwell, and not taking telephone calls. J One other isolated figure was Mr Trevor Young (Lab., Eastern Hutt). Well-known for his opposition to drink, he was the only person to applaud the announcement that the tax on alcohol was being increased.