Better Image Wanted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 3

Better Image Wanted

(N.Z. Press Association* WELLINGTON, July 19. A remit urging the i Government to improve its public relations will be considerI ed at the National I Party’s annual conference which will begin [ in Wellington on Sat- ' urday. The remit is ( ' from the C 1 u t h a j ! branch of the Otago- j ! Southland division of I the party. Fifty-six remits are set down for discussion at the conference. Ten of them will be discussed in plenary session. • The remainder will go before four committees which will report to the full conference. A firm recommendation that the Government should give private enterprise the opportunity to take part in commercial radio and television will be supported by the Canterbury-Westland branch and the St. Albans electorate. The remit was also put for-

ward by the Auckland division. 1 Clutha has a remit calling! I for the abolition of Maori (seats in Parliament; it asks (that the Government consider I now the fixing by statute of ’date for such abolition. ; The 10 remits to be dis-| cussed by the full conference! I range from productivity and’ overseas aid to a plea for a. farm disaster fund and revi-! Ision of drinking hours. The party is asked to in.elude in its 1966 election manifesto a promise to introIduce legislation for a referendum on drinking hours dur--1 ing the next term of government. ti' The proposal for a farm dis- ! aster fund envisages a scheme I which would bring land, stock ■ and crops within the earth quake and war damage insur- - ance cover. At present a i farmer hit by a “disaster”— - severe abnormal flooding for example—is usually only t covered on buildings arid * vehicles. - Conference will be asked to - urge the Government to ini crease its assistance to under- ; developed countries to a tari get level of I per cent of the ■ national income. ! Another remit asks the Gov-1 ■ 'eminent to rationalise annual;

i- holidays to avoid the econoImic waste of the Christmas- , New Year business shut-down j and seeks the deferment of s school summer holidays by r about one month. f Suppression of name for (anyone found not guilty of a .(Criminal charge is sought in a J remit to be considered at comjlmittee level. , 1 The remit also seeks a ban Jon publication of evidence ifrom a preliminary hearing . where the accused is commit- , ted for trial. The Government will be re- . quested to enact legislation . making it mandatory to kill . all stock at a freezing works before the start of a strike.