HURUNUI SEAT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 12

HURUNUI SEAT

Mr Pickering At Oxford

"I personally will fight allout for a full jet service atHarewood,” said Mr H. L.; Pickering, the National Party candidate in the Hurunui byelection, to more than 80 per-' sons at Oxford last evening. I Mr Pickering was referring | to the possibility of earning £lom a year from overseas tourists. Although Mangere was being developed for jets, said Mr Pickering. New Zealand was missing her opportunity when the pattern of tourism in the Pacific was being set. He might differ on this point from other members of the National Party, said Mr Pickering, but it was one of the fine things of the party that members could voice their own opinions. He hoped his opinion might become official policy. Another matter on which he might not be in agreement was the present plan for the northern motorway, said Mr Pickering. The motorway was so important and the whole case shou’d be reconsidered before an irrevocable decision was made to put a bridge over the Waimakariri river in a certain place. The motorway could result in the development of the whole of North Canterbury, bringing industry to Kaiapoi. Rangiora. and possibly Oxford and Amberlev. It could encourage a dispersal of industry and the growth of rural towns, solving many problems, and providing a better supply of workers in healthy- centres in rural districts.

The National Government would give particular attention to the educational needs of country children, said Mr Pickering, who outlined measures under consideration by the Government Television was the most powerful means of propaganda yet devised. Mr Pickering said. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had taken adequate steps to ensure there was no political misuse of the medium by providing a control independent of politicians. This would also ensure a high standard of programmes. New Zealand had the highes* standard of agricultural production in the world, said Mr Pickering. There was a problem now. however, of high costs, and where to sell New Zealand’s produce to offset these high costs. The new Ministry of Overseas Trade was a progressive part of the National Party policy just getting into action.

He hoped the National Government would hold Hurunui in such a convincing manner, said Mr Pickering, that the Government would remain in office after 1963. The Government had been gathering all the facts, and now it had these it was leading New Zealand in the right direction.