West Coast Inquiry Not Expected To Be Easy

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28935, 1 July 1959, Page 16

West Coast Inquiry Not Expected To Be Easy

(from Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 30. “This will be no easy job: it will be one of dose and personal investigation by every member of the committee, followed by exacting correlation, if we are to achieve a worth-while result,” said Mr R. O’Shea, chairman of the committee set up by the Government to inquire into the special problems of the West Coast. After the committee’s first meeting last week, members met informally this afternoon with Christchurch and West Coast journalists to discuss the work of the committee.

It appears likely 1 that the committee, when it visits the West Coast on its initial briefing survey, will examine the following possibilities:— Whether the flow of population from the West Coast, notably to Canterbury, can be halted and the labour potential on the West Coast built up by the encouragement, of large industries there. Whether the first requisite for the opening of the country would be the completion of the Haast Pass road and the general improvement of road communications. Whether the provision of an all-weather, deep-water port would in itself allow the West Coast to cprrect its disabilities. An important part of thin investigation would be to determine whether such a port would be at Greymouth, Westport, Point Elizabeth, or some other place. Whether sectional rivalry on the West Coast can be sublimated to the main issue of the

well-being of the entire region.

Mr O’Shea said that the first meeting last week had been held at the earliest possible moment. Already the committee had advertised inviting submissions from all interested bodies. These would be available in about a month. The committee intended to invite submissions directly from the area. Study of Area

In the meantime the committee would, from tomorrow, examine facts about the West Coast gleaned from Government departments. This great mass of assembled information would provide the committee members with the necessary background before they visited the West Coast.

The Wellington meetings would be in committee because of the nature of the information obtainable from departmental files, but subsequent hearings on the West Coast would be public unless persons appearing before the committee requested otherwise.

“This inquiry affects a large region and 40.000 people,” Mr O'Shea said. “For this reason no superficial examination of conditions will suffice. I hope that the West Coast people have confidence in this committee, and that they will appreciate that we must have the complete background before we can make recommendations.”

Mr O’Shea said that the committee would hold meetings in Westport and Greymouth with local organisations and others interested, and later would tour the area. Further deliberations would be necessary in Wellington, and by they it might be advisable to obtain advice from overseas. Then only could the committee proceed to a final examination of submissions, and the drafting of a report.

“Very Fine” Survey "Frankly, I am amazed at the amount of information that is available,’’ said Mr O'Shea. “It so happens that the first regional survey just published by the Works Department is on the West Coast. It is a very fine effort indeed, and in my opinion has some real bones in it. If that is indicative of the information we can get, then we shall not be short ol details."

Mr O’Shea added that the committee and the press need not expect miracles. “We can’t produce a rabbit out of a hat,” he

said. “We must examine .qU the information and all the Suggestions we receive. We shall get a lot of stuff, and much «qf it will be six feet off the ground. Our main job will be to determine what is an economic proposition.”

He suggested that the report of the committee might well be in two parts, first a sbort-tenn solution, to enable the West Coast to carry on, and then a long-term one which would provide a permanent method of working The committee had been gsked to report within six pmnth&.'Put it remained to be seenwhether the task could be completed in that time. Asked if the CMnmittee, w<»uld consider the attraction ot people to the West Coast, Mr O’Shea said: “I do not think we can do anything else but that A solution is more industry there, but the question of inducements has to be considered with common sense. Women and youths are leaving the West Coast because at present there is no opportunity there.”

Private Enterprise

On the question of Government participation, Mr S. Gladstone (West Coast) a member of the committee, said: “The committee can do a lot to impress upon people that it is not Government aid we want. We must look for opportunities where private enterprise can get in. There is a pool of female labour available, and in spite of what many think there is also a pool of male labour. The cement works absorbed 150 people, and few of these' came from outside.”

Mr Gladstone spoke oi the number of families who sent their children to Canterbury for education, and who followed them when there proved to be no opportunities for the youngsters on the coast.

Another committee member, Mr N. W. Milner, of Christchurch, said that it should be emphasised that the committee was completely non-political and impartial in its outlook. It had the support of both parties in Parliament. The fourth member of the committee, Mr E. R. Norman, of Wellington, spoke of a number of ways of using West Coast products which must be investigated. One of these was the gasification of coal. Gas and power could be sent all over the South Island, or, alternatively, some really big industries could establish themselves on the West Coast to use this power at its source, he said.