Labour Youth Deride Party For Timidity (Press, 14 May 1976)

During the New Zealand Labour Party conference on 13 May 1976, a report from the youth advisory council broke a long-standing silence regarding the party's performance over the last three years. The report, presented by youth council chairman Phil Goff, chastised the third Labour Government for lacking initiative and being too reliant on incremental changes. This critique injected energy into an otherwise subdued atmosphere at the conference. Goff firmly rejected the notion, held by some parliamentarians, that the party had gone "too far too soon" with its policies. He asserted that the real issue was the party's tolerance of vested interests that had stalled its programmes, leading to a perception of indecision and lack of clear direction. The youth representatives insisted that parliamentary seats should not be taken for granted and suggested that some MPs were unqualified to serve in Cabinet positions. The report highlighted a failure to engage effectively with youth, stating that Labour's stance over the previous three years was not seen as too radical by the electorate. Instead, it pointed out that voters lacked understanding of the significant changes made by Labour during that time. The youth council indicated that, compared to Labour’s efforts, the industrial relations policies of other parties like Values and Social Credit were more innovative and appealing to younger voters. Moreover, the report outlined that a future Labour Government would need to implement stricter taxation on higher incomes, introduce a capital-gains tax, impose tighter profit controls, and significantly enhance the minimum wage to regain its appeal. It also lamented a lack of oversight over parliamentary representatives, questioning the disregard for conference decisions, particularly on issues like homosexual law reform, and criticizing the development of election policies without proper consultation. Outgoing party president Sir Charles Bennett, in his final address, reinforced a united front within the party, indicating that leaders had been given a mandate to integrate the industrial and political aspects of the party to effectively challenge the current government. He expressed optimism about the party's resilience and readiness to confront upcoming challenges, stating, "We are poised and capable and ready to tackle and solve the problems ahead."

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