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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Vol. 32. No. 25. October 9, 1969

Qualifications

Qualifications

Let us look at some specific members of the National Government and their careers and experience.

Rt Hon. K. J. Holyoakc. Probably the most educated man in Parliament—not book-learning but applied learning. He is a shrewd and highly skilled negotiator, as was apparent from his recent visit to the United States and Canada. Only a few months ago. when our lamb exports to the U.S. were threatened. Mr Holyoake sent a strong message to that country. On his return, he had "new and firm assurances". How would his oppsite number have fared?

Mr Holyoake is recognised as a world figure in the realm of statesmanship.

Rt Hon. J. R. Marshall. LL.M. B.A. A lawyer by profession. Mr Marshall was the architect of the Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the Industrial Development Conference. Do you remember the opposition to these that came from a vociferous group? But who would deny their value now? The very people who castigated these enterprising and forward-looking schemes at their inception, are clamouring for the treasury benches.

Performance

  • • Export receipts in June 1969 exceeded a Billion dollars a year (in 1960, just over 600 million).
  • • 60% of all exports now sold outside Britain (in 1960. 47%).
  • • Manufactured exports last year were $84.2 million (in 1960. $16.3 million).
  • • Forest products exports last year were $60 million (in 1962, only 15 million).
  • • Additional trade officers appointed overseas (during the last Labour Government, many posts were not filled when they became vacant).

[unclear: A]. P. Shand B.A. When a body is elected to look after a small section of the community, how can its leaders take a firm line when negotiating with what are sometimes the unreasonable demands of its own supporters? This has always been the problem of a Labour Government in office.

Tom Shand is a name synonomous with industrial harmony. Serious strikes (very common in England over the last three years) are virtually unknown in New Zealand.

R. D. Muldoon, A.R.A.N.Z. What election promises is the National Government making which it cannot keep? None. Why? Because it hasn't made any. Why? Because the country can't afford something for nothing.

Logical? Note quite, but Mr Muldoon is intent on keeping New Zealand's finances on an even keel. His firmness has restored our balance of payments.

Performance

  • • Ross Committee Report on Taxation—the recommendations of which have in the main been implemented by the Government.
  • • Tax incentives for farming, forestry, fishing and tourism.
  • • Sharp rise in savings and investment in national development works.
  • • Record increase in export income.
  • • Full recovery from the worst recession since the '30's.

Hon. Brian Talboys, B.A. A sound administrator, based on experience obtained while working with agricultural journals.

Performance

  • • Farm production has risen by 27% since 1960.
  • • Demonstration farms have been established.
  • • Lands Department has developed 1.25 million over the past five years.

Hon. A. E. Kinsella, M.A. A practising teacher before he entered politics, Mr Kinsella has striven for an upgrading of th teaching profession and education generally.

Performance

  • • In 1960 14,547 people attended university— today twice as many—29,370.
  • • Spending on education today is $205 million—in 1960 it was $86 million.
  • • All teachers' colleges now operating a three year course for primary teachers—(change over from two year course was completed in half the time recommended by the Commission on Education).
  • • Smaller classes—(a) in primary: last year first steps were taken towards 1:35 pupils. (b) secondary: a new staff schedule has been introduced this year to give teacher pupil ratio of 1:32 for upper and lower sixth forms as a prelude to smaller classes generally.