Panel Member Explains Comments On West Coast

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 12

Panel Member Explains Comments On West Coast

(New Zealand Press Association)

NELSON, May 30. The Dominion president of the Women’s Temperance Union (Mrs A. Rankin, of Nelson) today replied to criticism by the Rev. Canon K. G. Aubrey, vicar of Greymouth. of a remark made by her on a “Point of View” discussion broadcast recently. ‘‘l heartily respect the minister who stands up for his parish and I have written to him expressing the hope that with mutual good will this incident will be forgotten. However, I owe it to my organisation to offer an explanation and ciear its good name. "I have lived on the West Coast and have both friends and relatives there. I have happy memories of the typical West Coast hospitality and enjoy return visits there whenever possible.

“I do not recall how much of the tape was edited but probably most, if not all your readers are aware that portions of the interview are deleted because of the time factor. “In discussion on the dosing hours of hotels, the West Coast is often cited as a reason for the introduction of special licensing laws (supposedly because there are so many bushworkers and miners there) and this tends to give the impression that an injustice is being done to certain working men. “'lt'.is was actually mentioned in the interview’ although it may not have come over the air. I had turned up the figures to

prove that by their voting for the continuance of 6 o’clock closing, the West Coasters themselves did not consider they were suffering any injustice. This applied even to Greymouth, where so many of those workers live,” said Mrs Rankin.

Traffic carried by the Aramoana to March 31 in making 246 return voyages was as follows: Wellington Picton to to Picton Wellington Total Passengers, ordinary fare 51,098 45,668 96,766 Passengers, day excursion fare 13,377 13,377 26,754 Cars, lorries, trailers, vans 11,334 10,140 21,474 Estimated tonnage (manifest) 56,670 50,700 107,370 Freight in rail waggons excluding trade of waggons (deadweight tons) 21,877 27.045 48,922 Estimated manifest tons 50,855 42,245 93,100