SCHEME WILL DOUBLE PRESENT STAFF

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27472, 5 October 1954, Page 11

SCHEME WILL DOUBLE PRESENT STAFF

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, October 4. “Very pleasing news,” was the comment of the Conservator of Forests for Westland, Mr D. Kennedy, of Hokitika 4oday, when the Minister’s announcement of the expansion of the Granville forest project was referred to him. “I am pleased we are going to get some outside assistance to do something on the West Coast,” he said. “The young men being trained in forestry will be very useful on the West Coast.” Mr Kennedy said that at present there was a field staff of about 20 at Granville, so that a 100 per cent, increase was contemplated by the Minister. There would be an immediate move to provide housing at Granville, and the project would be expanded as time went on, he said. Accommodation for single men would be essential and also quarters for married men, so that the strength of the staff could be maintained as the staff married. It was suggested by Mr Kennedy that the development appeared to end a proposal that the now closed hostel for miners at Reefton be converted for use in a forestry training school scheme. Officers of the department had examined the hostel, but the announced plans for Granville probably meant that a decision had been made against using the hostel. Reefton was too far from Granville as a centre of accommodation for the men to be employed in that area, he said, and the hostel would have been available only for a scheme involving the area north of the Grey river and Granville.