Prebble makes play for farming vote

WELLINGTON - Act has promised to push ahead with producer board reform and suggests a leaner role for councils to reduce the rates burden on rural communities.

Releasing the party's rural policy yesterday, leader Richard Prebble claimed Act had more farmers and primary producers on its list than National, Labour and the Alliance combined.

"Act is offering rural New Zealand positive change. Farmers do not want three more years like the last."

Campaigning in Tariki, south of Inglewood in Taranaki, he said Act was the only party that opposed changes to Maori reserve leasehold land without full compensation for the Taranaki farmers leasing the land.

"The west coast lessees have been battling to get reimbursed for their legal costs incurred through the process of the Maori Reserved Lands Act. They are still waiting to get a reply from the Government," said Mr Prebble.

"Farmers who have accepted a lump sum have received between 35 and 40 per cent of their rightful compensation. Any claim that there is, is against the Crown.

"Act believes in the sanctity of contract and no Waitangi claim should be settled at the expense of private property rights."

Mr Prebble said agriculture faced challenges, but primary production offered the best prospect for export growth.

Act rural spokesman Owen Jennings said the party's plan to restore profitability to farmers and rural communities focused on three main areas.

"Firstly, agriculture needs new capital, new management and the new ideas and products that will follow."

To achieve this, Act would lower taxes and remove "stifling" regulation, including producer board legislation, and compliance costs.

Second, he said, Act would attack the cost structure that was weakening businesses throughout New Zealand by reforming the Resource Management Act and restoring property rights.

"Thirdly, Act will improve the quality of rural community life by restoring the profitability of farming, leaving more resources in provincial New Zealand."

He said Act's voucher-system approach to health and education would mean better services for rural communities. - NZPA