Mr Marshall Not Going To Nelson

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29722, 16 January 1962, Page 10

Mr Marshall Not Going To Nelson

(New Zealand Preu Association)

NELSON, January 15.

An invitation to go to Nelson to explain the Government’s industrial development policy has been declined by the deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall). The invitation was made by the Mayor of Nelson (Mr S I. Russell) to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), but as Mr Holyoake is now absent from Wellington Mr Marshall replied to Mr Russell. His reply read: "No minister is available to attend this meeting, but. in any case, I do not think that complicated and difficult considerations can be dealt with the way you suggest.” Earlier today at a meeting of Nelson local bodies representatives which decided to call a public protest meeting on the decision to

abandon the cotton mill, Mr S. A. Whitehead. M.P., said people might be interested to know that not only one but several firms had originally been interested in establishing a cotton mill in New Zealand.

Mr J. W. Gribble said he felt the present Government was dividing the country, with one section of the community pulling against the other. Farmers could not carry on without the co-op-eration of other workers and the present decision would make the breach wider. Mr P. W. Strawbridge read a section of the joint announcement which said: "The Government, for its part, has reluctantly come to the conclusion that the development of this project would not fit harmoniously Into its plans for the industrial development of New Zealand. “I think we should demand to know what this policy is," said Mr Strawbridge. “Has the Government taken over Federated Farmers’ policy of boosting primary industries and scotching secondary industries?”

It was unthinkable that the Government could repudiate an agreement without giving reasons other than those that had been disclosed, said Mr Strawbridge.

Volunteers Arrive.—Thirtysix American Peace Corps volunteers, most of them women, were welcomed to Malaya yesterday by the Deputy - Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Razak).—

Kuala Lumpur. January 13)