Forum Archive Index - December 2002

[ichi@ihug.co.nz]

Nationalise This, Helen
-----------------------
The Government's proposal to purchase Tranz Rail tracks for millions
of dollars is absurd.  Along with Cuba and North Korea, we are the 
only country in the world that is ruling out privatisation and embarking 
on a programme of nationalisation.  What an inspired trio: Fidel Castro, 
Kim Jong Il and Helen Clark.

The Labour Government is weakly caving to pressure from highly-paid
public relations operators who represent a bunch of companies which
would like freight charges to be lower.  These PR professionals are
taking advantage of the naïve politics of the Green Party and New
Zealand First to push the private agenda of Fonterra, Carter Holt
Harvey, Fletcher Challenge Forests, SOE Solid Energy and BHP NZ Steel.

If dairy owners and supermarkets argued the price of milk was too
high, would the Government buy dairy farms?

At the moment New Zealanders are free to buy shares in Tranz Rail if
they wish - it is listed on the sharemarket. That they choose not to
is no reason for Labour, the Greens and NZ First to force them to
invest in the railways.

This Government is getting into a habit of rewarding poorly
performing companies by bailing them out with money from New Zealand
tax-payers.  Ignoring the unfairness and the waste, that is an
appalling signal to send the commercial sector.  Tranz Rail should be
left alone to either get on with its legitimate business, or go into
receivership or liquidation.  Those who say that Tranz Rail has no
competitors have bought the PR spin.  Air and road freight are in
direct competition for every Tranz Rail delivery.  How many trucking
operators does the Government think it has the right to put out of
business?

The Government won't stop with the tracks.  The taxpayer will end up
buying the tracks, the rolling stock and the locomotives so Fonterra,
Carter Holt Harvey, Fletchers and friends can get their cheap freight.  
And that is not fair.

Deborah Coddington MP

_____________________________________
deborah.coddington@parliament.govt.nz


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