WEALTHY AREA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31223, 22 November 1966, Page 22

WEALTHY AREA

—P. Blanehfield (Labour)

Having had the honour of representing Westland for the last six years, I look forward with faith in the people of the district to again give me their support. I have spared no effort since 1960 to try to make Westland a greatly improved area. One of the main facets of my political life was to emphasise again and again to the authorities in the House that my district was a wealthy one with its resources virtually untapped. I feel stronger about this than ever before.

Recent reports on our coal reserves are more glowing than ever on good coals. I will keep agitating for the construction of a plant on the Coast that will allow us to derive the valuable byproducts. Other countries have these plants—why not New Zealand. Coal has been one of our best industries in the past and it should be even better in the future.

On timber, I advocate as much reafforestation as possible to take the place of the indigenous timber being so rapidly cut. The land on the Coast, in the main, should be used for growing exotic trees or farming. As in the past, I will always be an advocate of breaking in our land by Government machinery on a big scale. A look around the district will show just how our secondgrade land can be brought into good pasture by modern mechanical methods. Farmers’ Loans

I also advocate the use of State Advances moneys to farmers at low rates of interest rather than have them tied for life with big rates of interest to private companies.

As in the past, I will push the tourist industry in New Zealand and particularly on the West Coast. More beds are needed at the Franz Josef Hotel and I consider that a cable car should be erected to enable visitors to be taken to the snowfields on top of the glaciers. At all times I will be ready to defend the social security system and see that the principles of free hospital, free doctor and free medicine are adhered to as far as possible.