Policy For Industry In South Wanted

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 9

Policy For Industry In South Wanted

“The day power crosses Cook Strait, the industrial disparity between the two islands will increase year by year unless the Government takes some action to see that heavy industry is established in the South Island, and it must do so by a national policy, not just by lip service,” said Mr Mark Wallace, president of the South Island Local Bodies' Association. The association’s executive adopted a motion by Mr G. Manning, the Mayor of Christchurch, “That while we have no objection to the power going to the North Island, we urge the Government to realise the need for industrial development in the South Island, and to implement a policy for that." The resolution will be conveyed by a deputation to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) when he returns from overseas. “I have never opposed the cable, but I have certain misgivings,” Mr Wallace said. “It looks as though we will have cables willy nilly as the industrial demand for power increases in the North Island. “New Zealand is a unique country in some respects. It is a young country and has the opportunity to plan and develop as few of the older countries have. “Lip Service” “We have had politician after politician giving lip service to the idea of dispersal of industry and co-ordinated development of the country so there will be a greater spread of political power and economic development,” he continued. "I know the development of South Island power resources is going to mean employment and money spent in the South Island, but we will be exporting one of our major resources, and I am confident that for every unit of benefit we get in the South Island industrially there will be a 10 times greater benefit to the North.” Every settled area of the Dominion was a desirable place in which to live, Mr Wallace said, and if there was to be balanced development then there must be dispersal of industry throughout the whole country. The Government must adopt as a policy the idea of heavy industry requiring big blocks of power being established near the source of power. “No Suggestions” But not one Minister had made any suggestion on the ultimate long-term effect of the Cook Strait cable project and on maintaining the pre- . sent balance of industrial growth.

"New Zealand does not end at Cook Strait,” commented Mr W. P. Glue (Christchurch). If the electricity accounts for the two islands were separated, the South Island would have to meet a higher cost “The North Island will get the power, and if it does not get it from the southern lakes then there will be a higher cost, and it will be reflected in our costs." “We should go to the Government and ask straight out what it is going to do,” Mr Wallace said. “I want to hold the Prime Minister to a statement he made during the election campaign that the South Island would gain equally with the North through the power cable. I want to ask him what he proposes to do to implement that.” Mr D. H. Cockburn (Invercargill) said he still had some doubts after the safety and practicability of transmission of power by the cable.