STATE OFFICES AT HOKITIKA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26998, 25 March 1953, Page 10

STATE OFFICES AT HOKITIKA

MOVE TO GREYMOUTH OPPOSED

PRIME MINISTER HEARS COMPLAINTS (From Our Own Reporter)

HOKITIKA. March 24. ‘‘l think some of the things you have said have been said with unnecessary vigour. I am not complaining about that. You do it this way down the Coast, and you invite me to use the same methods.” This was the opening comment by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), when he replied to protests by a deputation today against the transfer of some Government offices from Hokitika to Greymouth. When Mr Holland first said that the deputation had spoken very frankly to him, the Mayor of Hokitika (Mr A. E. Perry) replied: “You are on the Coast.”

The domiciling of the departments at Greymouth appeared to be unwarranted on the ground of economy, said Mr Perry. It was certainly shortsighted for the future development of the province.

Some of the changes might be justified, said Mr J. B. Hood, president of the Hokitika Progress League. It was felt that the decision was made by departmental officers. It would appear that there was mismangement in the transfer of the Supreme Court registry, and a deliberate attempt to undermine the status of the Hokitika Court, but any pretext whatever, was behind this incomprehensible juggling. The Minister of Justice (Mr T. C. Webb) had said that the transfer of the Supreme Court registry was a matter of economy, but that saving could not be substantiated.

The Westland Licensing Committee was to be transferred at. the end of this month to Greymouth. No need was seen for the transfer. Hokitika was more central. The community felt very strongly about the matter and the n.anner in which it was done. The Prime Minister’s intervention to prevent the transfer was sought. To transfer a Hokitika youth to the Grfeymouth Court and to pay him a boarding allowance seemed ridiculous, and the league was confident that the public reaction would be fairly strong. Mr E. W. Heenan, a member of the Licensing Committee, protested against the transfer. The office-had been at Hokitika since Westland was a province, and he could see no reason for a change. By its transfer to Greymouth the stamp office would cost a great deal more to run. “The changes do not affect the’solicitors personally, because we charge for everything we do—and the general opinion is that we do not charge too lightly,” said Mr A. R. Elcock, on behalf of Hokitika lawyers. The closing of the stamp office had caused inconvenience, and the claim that the transfer of the Supreme Court registry would save £4OO a year was buncombe. The changes had been made without reference to the district. Mr Holland’s Reply “We should advise the public so that representations can be made,” replied Mr Holland. “It is your right to protest, and it is for the Government to make the decision. One thing stated is entirely wrong. I deny it emphatically, and you have no right to say it—that the decisions were made by departmental officers. The Government makes the decision and takes the responsibility. We take the credit if it is right.' arid the blame if it’s wrong. Decisions are based on information from departmental officers. Mr Hood: There is a big falling down in the figures given to the Minister. The Government was being constantly charged with having too many servants and that administration was too costly, continued Mr Holland. The Government was only discharging its minimum public duty when it had the maximum of economy. Referring to Mr Hood’s charge of “incomprehensible juggling,’’ Mr Holland said: “I know.that on the Coast you have almost a language and laws of your own. If I said it to you, you would have pulled me up, * and you saying it does not help the case very much. 7 Mr Hood: It is incomprehensible that the boy should be paid a boarding allowance. “I will undertake to provide facilities that the trade' of the district requires, but not in anticipation of trade,” said Mr Holland, who promised to investigate the representations. "I think we can be criticised for not having taken you into our confidence. I regret it was 1 not done. I cannot quarrel with your asking to be informed.”

Mr J. B. Kent, M.P.: If that had been done, these questions would not have arisen today.