Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1950. CHATHAM ISLANDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 126, 13 March 1950, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1950. CHATHAM ISLANDS

Five hundred people and 100,000 sheep exist on the 372 square miles which make up the Chatham of Warekauri Islands, which lie due east of Lyttelton. They have for long enough been regarded as part of the South Island proper, but very few statistics have been available. Even the sheep returns have been buried in those of 'the Canterbury-Kaikoura sheep district, but with the appointment of a resident commissioner, it would seem that the old order is about to undergo a change. The people of the island have had to struggle along for a .long time under numerous difficulties. They have had to deal with a number of government departments*, and have been responsible to various’local bodies, some located in Wellington, some in Christchurch and some else j where. .Except for local county council members, all public officials have come from the mainland —resident magistrate, policeman, medical officer, post office and radio station staff, school teachers, clergymen, and, latterly, Ministry of Works engineers, None of -them, however, is responsible beyond his specialised -duties, and the need has grown for a co-ordinated authority responsible for general administration, public welfare and the maximum utilisation of economic resources. This long-standing system, while being able to meet th'e immediate needs of the community, has not been altogether satisfactory, and has, in fact, retarded the development of the islands resources with consequent improvement in general living conditions. The islands have two main sources of revenue, sheep and fish, with the greatest attention being given to the former. The total sheep population at the moment is round about 100,000 but this could probably be great-, ly increased if improved farming methods and equipment were available. Art improvement .in pastures by means of topr-dressing would probably increase the carrying capacity, and this is but one of the number of matters which the new resident commissioner will investigate .in the course of his administration. The second industry is fishing, which provides about 400 tons of marketable fish for New Zealand each, year. Being so far from the mainland, the residents face big hurdles so far as housing, sanitation, education and cultural amenities generally are concerned, and here again the commissioner may be able to help them considerably. The problems are manifold, but once the new system operates a big improvement can be expected.