Government by Default

The National Government continues to sit up in parliament and wait for time to resolve the many problems the country faces. Deputy P.M. Marshall has returned from his overseas junket with, as could be expected, nothing gained except the illusion that the government is awake and alert. Although some attempts are being made to obtain alternative markets for our primary produce, we have so far concentrated on markets with a limited absorptive capacity for our products.

Critics of the government's "wait and pray" policy appear to still be voices crying in the wilderness. Harvey Franklin, Senior Lecturer in the Geography Dept., still conducts his lonely battle in favour of using the technical skills that exist in N.Z. to develop specialised industries, without a taker.

Jack Batt, President of the Public Service Association, is regarded as prophet of doom because he sees N.Z.'s immediate economic future as one of a continually declining standard of living with an annual drop in the Gross National Product and a falling Rate of Investment. Mr Batt's prognostications are based upon a fairly realistic appraisal of the present trends and unfortunately correct appraisal of the economic policy of the National Government.

The alternative to the Government's present policy is a vigorous policy aimed at a diversification our primary production; an acceptance of the fact that the farmers will have to accept a lower income; greater government investment in industrial research laboratories; a rapid and sweeping change in our industrial production aimed at producing goods which are capital intensive, skill intensive and easily transportable; and finally an acceptance, in the interim of a lowered standard of living by all New Zealanders.

This policy would necessitate planned control of the economy and planned production, which is completely unpalatable to the National Party. The need for the workers to accept a lowered standard of living would have little appeal to the Labour Party but this the workers will have to accept anyway.

I personally do not expect a particularly vigorous or intelligent approach by National Party Government but abdicated its responsibility without it being passed to anyone else. In reality the present situation in this country amounts to Government by default.

Val Maxwell.