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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 30, No. 10. 1967.

Kirk on campus

Kirk on campus

"That The National Party of New Zealand is "on its political deathbed" was the message of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Kirk when he spoke at Victoria recently.

"You are all familiar enough with the mess that has been created and those who created it," he said by way of introduction to his topic.

He claimed that real unemployment in New Zealand is higher than official figures show due to the non-registration of many people over 65, out of work married women and those unemployed who have been in the country less than twelve months.

"We have come in New Zealand to have an overtime based economy." he contended, "but overtime has been cut. In some industries people are working only four days a week so that others can have a job."

On the perennial problem of trade deficits he drew attention to the excessive outflow of invisible trade, especially that associated with shipping costs.

"Why do we have to fall over backwards when the Conference Line demands higher rates?" he asked."Australia has the fortitude to dispute this at government level, we should follow her line on this matter and call for tenders for certain bulk freight items, if necessary outside the Shipping Conference."

He said rates in Australia had been reduced by 7 1/2 per cent when the tenders had been awarded to the Pakistani state shipping line and the Japanese state line.

As a solution he suggested: "If a company could be encouraged to set up in New Zealand dividends will still be remitted overseas, but running costs, including crews' wages could be paid in New Zealand, and the ships could be crewed by New Zealand seamen."

Referring to New Zealand's economic record. Mr. Kirk said. "More people in New Zealand enjoy a better way of life than in any other country in the world. Elsewhere there may be those who are richer, but there are also in those countries those who are substantially poorer."

To protect this he sees the need for a revision of our economic policy, and also for revision of foreign policy.

"Our continued security will come to depend not so much on force of arms as on the attitude of the Asians towards us," he said. "There will be; no political stability in any country where there is still economic want."

He proposed a revised system whereby instead of outright grants the New Zealand Government would sell goods to undeveloped countries at whatever rate could be obtained. This would serve to develop the trading habit, he said, and would promote economic development in the receiving country and encourage production in New Zealand.

The deficit between price obtained and the market level for our exports would be made up to the New Zealand producer in domestic currency. The trading partner would thus be able to increase its standard of living and trade "on a full economic basis" whenever that became possible.

Mr. Kirk also outlined a new Labour Party plan for nonpartisan aid to Vietnamese children which would be supported by public subscription. The plan, which was simultaneously announced in the House of Representatives, provides for houses to be built in which war orphans would be placed with foster parents.

Asked if the New Zealand public would be able to pay for this in the present economic situation, Mr. Kirk cited the Corso appeal which was maintained "in spite of the decreased incomes of many of the people who contributed.

"In constructive aid there is the basis for a more lasting situation," he said. "Lasting security does not come at the point of a gun."