Wide Powers For Commissioner

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 46

Wide Powers For Commissioner

The Government has given the Commissioner for the West Coast (Mr D. B. Dallas) the powers of a plenipotentiary and has promised him full backing. Announcing this yesterday, the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) said the Government had given Mr Dallas wide liaison powers and would leave him to work in a manner he thought would fit the local circumstances.

The Inter - depart - mental Government Committee would examine Mr Dallas’s reports, suggestions and requests for information. It would see that he got information quickly.

Mr Allen said he was not offering a quick and easy wayout of the difficulties facing the West Coast

The Government intended to revitalise not salvage the economy of the West Coast. “For years the West Coast has been depending on liberal financial support from central government,” he said. “This has come mainly from bolstering coal mining, from substantial help for the two ports and from high reading subsidies. "The Coast has recently suffered such setbacks as excessive storm and flood damage and a major earthquake, as well as loss of support for its coal mining. “Coasters are not in a position to make needed adjustments to their economy quickly and easily.” Major Roles Mr Allen said Mr Dallas would have 11 major roles as Commissioner for the West Coast. They are:— To act as local representative of the Government in matters pertaining to regional co-ordination and development. To encourage acceptance of the West Coast as a single, co-ordinated regional unit To encourage, advise and if necessary work with local authorities in matters of planning and development within their areas. To act as liaison officer between local and central government agencies in matters of special regional significance, or where liaison work is otherwise necessary. To encourage sound development and general co-op-eration and co-ordination of all development agencies. To provide, where possible, general information and advice but in particular information and advice on private or local authority proposals for development on the West Coast To initiate, where necessary, moves or proposals which are justified to achieve the broad aims of regional and local development To consult, co-operate and co-ordinate closely with t statutory authorities concerned with investigating and guiding local and regional planning and administration. To provide special reports requested by the Government. To advise the Government on measures necessary or advisable to achieve sound

and profitable progress on the West Coast. |To ensure that the West Coast community and local government are kept informed of the objectives and progress of general development. Burden

Mr Allen said it might seem easier to increase the type of aid the Coast was used to, but doing this would only compound the problems while imposing an unjustifiable burden on taxpayers in the rest of the country, the Press Association reported.

“The Government is certain that the only way to help the Coast in a manner which will bring lasting benefits is to encourage an environment which will induce Coasters to stand on their own as selfreliant, capable New Zealanders,” the Minister said. Self-reliance was not likely to be obtained “if we inject massive subsidies or unrealistically generous conces-

fsions to commerce and industry.” “Instead we must encourage Coasters to make the most of their own opportunities and also encourage private enterprise to invest in the area,” he said. Making public the first review of the Government’s activities since Mr Dallas was appointed Commissioner for the West Coast last year, Mr Allen said some of Hie many things which had been done, or were being dealt with, included:—

Preparation of an inventory of industry on the West Coast to help stimulate industrial development. Completion of land-use capability surveys. Preparation of a special regional plan by the town and country planning branch of the Ministry of Works. Investigation of meat processing in the region.