Islanders’ Big Part In Chathams Development

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31322, 18 March 1967, Page 14

Islanders’ Big Part In Chathams Development

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, March 17.

Chatham Islanders had spent a considerable sum of their money on development in the islands, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) today.

He expressed surprise and disappointment at the tone of an editorial in “The Press” today about developing the Chathams, and said that he was amazed at the “evident lack of sympathy with the very real difficulties that the Chathams have and are facing.”

“It is most disheartening because apparently the trouble has not been taken to check previous reports in ‘The Press’ on development undertaken by the islanders themselves. Because their needs are very real and some expense is associated with this, there is no reason for denying the need for the' work. “One of the reasons that no ' real attempt has been made I to deal with the basic prob-! lems of the islands in the last ’ six years has been the expense involved. “However, the Islanders have spent a considerable sum of their own money on development. “They have opened a meat freezer which is wholly

Island-owned, and at the moment a considerable sum of money is being spent on upgrading the works in order to bring them up to the requirements of meat export standard. The works are cooperatively owned by Chatham Island farmers. “A number of farmers have invested quite considerable sums of money in land devvelopment and though the present fall in wool prices is a discouragement, land development is proceeding. “Something like £lOO,OOO has been invested under various schemes in land acquisition and development under the supervision of the Lands Department. Considering the relatively small number of farmers, this is not a bad effort.

“The Chatham Islands fishery is recently reported to have produced something over £1 million in value of crayfish and New Zealand has enjoyed overseas exchange to this extent as a consequence. Trees, Houses. Roads “Tree planting and the construction of new houses has also been proceeded with by the local administration. The county council has been investing quite a sum of money in housing and road improvement. These are but a few of the things 1 can' enumerate that the Chatham Islanders have been doing at their own expense. This is an excellent record for a small community.

“They pay the same taxes as everybody else in New

Zealand and they pay very much higher prices for the things that they use than anyone else in New Zealand. They live under some very considerable disabilities, not the least of which is Isolation, and until this problem has been solved, the full value of development and an increasing rate of development can hardly be achieved. Transport Service “Might I point out that in spite of the promises made by the present Government to deal with the transport problem as soon as possible, nothing adequate has been done and now, after various claims that the airfield project was being treated as a matter of urgency, we find that the fly-ing-boat will finish its service on March 22 and that it may be substituted by some service operated by the R.N.Z.A.F. on the Hapupu airstrip. Neither the editor of “The Press” nor any of its readers would care to have to rely on the transport arrangements between Waitangi and the Hapupu airstrip as the approach to the only air service. “However, let me also point out that the so-called substitute service, in spite of the announcement made at Waitangi last week by the resident commissioner, is yet to be approved. I would think that, on balance, the Chatham Islands deserve a little more sympathetic treatment than that gained in the editorial. “The Chatham Islands do not lean on the rest of New Zealand and the matter should be viewed in proper perspective.

“While these are a relatively small group of islands, we cannot afford to regard them as of no importance. We certainly would not like to see them occupied by anyone other than New Zealanders. If they are to be occupied on a self-supporting basis then clearly development work must proceed. “Mr Holmes and his council have done their very best but they cannot fulfil the potential of the islands by their I own efforts, unaided.”