DEVELOPMENT IN NELSON

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 14

DEVELOPMENT IN NELSON

Credit Claimed By National

(From Our Own Reporter) NELSON, Nov. 18. The people of Nelson had the National Party to thank for everything in the way of development which had been done in the area, said Mr C. W. Martin, National candidate for Nelson, at a suburban meeting tonight. All that Labour had been able to do was make promises, and, many of these had been broken. Three years ago Labour had promised Nelson a ferry. Within a week of attaining power, Mr Nash had told them that they would have to rely on other means.

For many years a railway had been promised—and this was one which Nelson people were learning to look at carefully. “Nelson would not have had this cotton mill we are getting if it had not been for me,” said Mr Martin. “I know Mr Levy very well. He was looking about New Zealand for a site for a cotton venture when I suggested he come to Nelson. We were able to show him the advantages, and so the mill is being established. Do not let any Labour person claim credit for this.” ' Mr Martin said that the mill could never have come to Nelson were it not for the work carried out in the area during the term of the National Government. This included the fine schools, including Waimea Intermediate and Waimea College. The new hospital and. nurses’ home, the sealed runway at the airport, carried out at low cost to the taxpayers, and finally the magnificent notional railway which brought with it all the flexibility of a rail service coupled with a scale of charges equivalent to and sometimes e\>*en cheaper than those of the railway.

Mr Martin drew attention to comment by the Minister of Works (Mr Watt) about produce going from Nelson through Picton to the North Island. Why did this have to be? he asked. Much of the shipping in Nelson harbour was coastal, and it would be a sorry day if this was allowed, to go. Why could not timber also be shipped out through Nelson’s own harbour?