Annual National Party dinner held in Waiouru

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 24, 11 November 1986, Page 7

Annual National Party dinner held in Waiouru

The Annual National Party Dinner, Waiouru Branch, was held at the Oasis Hotel, Waiouru, last week. The guest speakers were Mr Doug Kidd, MP for Marlborough and Mr Jim Bolger, MP for King Country and Leader of the Opposition. A good attendance of about 90 filled the Bass Bar of the hotel for the occasion. Mr Kidd spoke on the subject of insidious changes to the Westminster system of Parliamentary democracy and was critical of the present Government expanding the user-pays philosophy in such a way that the newlygenerated revenue is directly applied to the general funding of Government expenditure — therebv circumventing the principle of Parliamentary approval and consideration for Government spending. Mr Kidd was critical of the Deputy Prime Minister, Geoffrey Palmer, who Mr Kidd referred to as being a Constitutional purist who is turning a blind eye to the fact that the democratic procedures were being flouted. He emphasised the need for the public at large to be made aware of the dangers of an 'Executive Elite'

changing the rules uporr which Western democracies such as New Zealands' are meant to operate. Mr Bolger'saddress wasa wide-ranging speech which dealt with law and order. defence, overseas borrowing, unemployment, corporatisation. National Party organisation, Labourorganisation and caucus unity. He dwelt at some length on the two points he considers to be certain election issues — those of law and order. and unemployment — and was highly critical of the additional imposts on average New Zealanders that the user-pay services provided by Government

departments will mean in future. The Waiouru Branch Annual Dinner is becoming a most popular vearly event and the importance of the occasion has been recognised by the National Party organisation in Wellington. A pleasant and informative evening was brought to a close by a vote of thanks to both speakers proposed by local Committee Member, George MacL.achlan. The speakers then leff by car for Wellington. Statement supplied by George McLachlan Committee niember, Waiouru Branch National Party