Opposition to Foreign Control

The first, moved by Diane Hooper, urged that we support the Campaign Against Foreign Control in New Zealand (CAFCINZ). She quoted examples such as Mt Davy Coal and of course, Comalco, as well as other important industries,' the foreign control of which she found 'particularly obnoxious.' The seconder, a certain Mr Swann with extremely expressive eyebrows, also cited Comalco, which he said was "the most obvious and well thrashed out example.' Mr Swann said that as an organisation CAFCINZ is very much aware that besides the multinational corps; that have outlets here, New Zealand's biggest home grown monopolies are also very much in league with foreign capital, technical expertise and influence, and that this trend is also evident in the financial institutions that operate in this country. Mr Swann further stated that as a group that has no expressed political affiliation. CAFCINZ is able to embrace a wide cross section of people who are competant to produce factual researched information with which to mobilise the people of New Zealand and make them aware of just what is really happening.

David Cunningham, "following the spirit"

The Inevitable Lloyd Jobson also spoke for the motion and then came the only speaker against it. Ian Westbrooke, a Young Socialist (and not ashamed of it!). He said that compared to Mozambique and Angola during the Portuguese occupation, New Zealand had no foreign control problem. He said he agreed with CAFCINZ in the campaigning against foreign military bases in New Zealand, such as Mount John, but he didn't agree with the statement made in the CAFCINZ 'Resistance' leaflet which 'opposes foreign ownership ... rather than (its) effect in environmental damage.' Mr Westbrooke described this as 'haywire' and that our main problem is big business monopoly within the country, period, which led on to a brief philosophical discourse on the evils of capitalism. After a sensible lets-put-everything-into-perspective speech from David Cunningham the motion was voted on and carried.