Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1947. DISTRICT PROBLEMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 182, 16 May 1947, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1947. DISTRICT PROBLEMS

A few days ago we had occcasion to berate, in a gentle way, the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce for failing to take the public into its confidence in regard to various matters vitally affecting the welfare of the district. The Chamber has come into the open concerning industrial development. and has sapured the backing of representative sections of the community, which, bears out our previous contention. In this particular matter the Chamber is to be complimented on having taken the initiative, and even if nothing comes of the representations which are to be made to the Government, it will at least have the satisfaction of knowing that it has done its duty by the people it represents. In point of fact, it has been known for a long- time that industrial and even business development in Ashburton has been handicapped very severely by rail freights and the high cost, of electric power, to say nothing of the housing aspect which the conference held on Wednesday linked with the retarding factors which were stressed. The time has long since passed when the town should take such matters lying down. The Chamber has not long been revived, and in tackling the problem of industrial development, it is undertaking a task in which it should receive the wholehearted backing of every organisation affected. It is problematical whether any redress can be secured so far as rail freights are concerned nor is very much satisfaction likely to be secured in regard to electricity charges, but the representations being made concerning the slow progress in the building of State houses may bear fruit. After all, there can be no real development, industrially or commercially, until the' people are adequately housed. The company interested in the glasswoi'ks may be in a position to provide houses for any staff which might be required, but there are many existing firms which are handicapped, and have been for a long time, because of their inability to secure housing for their staffs. Quite a number of firms would probably enlarge their staffs if suitable accommodation could be secured. The Government has declared itself in favour of the decentralisation of industry, but has done nothing, so far as Ashburton is concerned, to implement its policy. From the point of view of resources, the Ashburton district is one .of the most favoured in the Dominion, and the whole question of development should be regarded from tihe standpoint of the whole district. If the Chamber of Commerce and the other organisations associated with it fight the present issue on this basis, then they will have strong backing.