Revival

Everyone was getting thoroughly put to sleep by this stage, so something had to happen. A very quiet National Party suddenly had a flurry of notes passing around. And then: Last year Government expenditure increased by 28.6%.....[0-0L] I Said: Last year Government expenditure increased by 28.6%

- shocking! said the chorus

And Government spending grew to 42% of the Gross National Product

- Terrible! said the chorus

We will ensure that the Government deficit will be only $850 million this year.

- Hear! Hear! said the chorus.

[last year National viciously attacked Labour for budgetting a fantastic deficit of $700 millions. Funny that].

It got quiet again, and the chorus tipped its head and ducked off to the loo.

So we moved off into a general survey of Government spending, with very little mention of works and development, and huge apparent increases in Health and Education (actually small real declines). After education the rot started in the public gallery, and the masses dragged their weary ways to the door.

Not much new stuff back on the floor. A leaving tax to discourage NZers going overseas. More incentives for exporters, and some to regional development.

The start of National Superannuation in February 1977, but still no idea how it'll be funded. Substantial increases in pensions in the menatime. But little more.