CAPITAL FOR COAST

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 4

CAPITAL FOR COAST

I am interested in politics because I have a fervent desire to see more freedom in this country and I also consider that politics have become one of the most vital issues in our daily lives. I believe the National Party has the best policy to do the most good for the most people. I have maintained and continue to maintain that Westland was more buoyant when National went out of flower than it is today. A brief glance at the last three years should remind any reasonable person that 1958 was Westland's “bad year,” when markets for coal became difficult and there was widespread talk of a fictitious slump. The Commission of Inquiry was set up in 1959 and received submissions in October of that year. So far the only things that Labour has done for the Coast have been to set up this commission, promise a briquetting plant for Blackball, which has not yet eventuated, and increased the expenditure on the Haast Pass road, as suggested in the interim report of the committee. Really a mere bagatelle, even though the West Coast is a near-depressed area at present. The electoral roll shows a decrease of 486. hardly a sign of buoyancy. It is now an accepted economical law that to overcome depressed times it is necessary to inject capital and keep money flowing. That is what is required on the West Coast now—not in the distant future. On the face of the committee’s recommendations I will press for extended credit in the dumping of coal nearer to its markets and the provision of more storage of screened coal suitable for export at the mine. Road Ing Other needs are:— Increased expenditure on roads to eliminate the many bottlenecks in our roading system, which will be created on the completion of the Haast Pass road and remove the present casualty-creating spots. The extension ot the national railway to South Westland. An increase in the cutting of our native timbers, associated with a reafforestation programme to ensure adequate supplies in the future in what are proving to be the more profitable timbers—for example the exotics. A fuller development of the tourist industry. These things. I maintain, should be done immediately to create more jobs and the flow of capital. We welcome any inflow of capital that has been suggested following the release of the Little Report, but we should insist on competitive terms. The National Party would have appreciated the opportunity of debating the problems of the West Coast in the last session of Parliament. Mr Nash delayed the release of this report, which was available in September. A National Government will not shirk its responsibilities to the West Coast. There is absolutely no doubt that the Coast can do with an injection of Government capital, and we will see that it gets it.