Map project meets demand

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32802, 30 December 1971, Page 8

Map project meets demand

of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in MidCanterbury have recently completed the publication of a farm location map covering the area from the Rakaia River in MidCanterbury to the Pareora River in South Canterbury and including the names of some 4000 land owners and occupiers. That there is a demand for this type of publication is clearly shown in that the first printing of 2000 sets has now all been sold and the sale of a second 2000 copies is now starting. In spite of current difficult economic conditions, Mr J. S. Rawlinson, the chamber’s map project convener, has described the response to the map as “outstanding.” The map of the area is in two sections and the set is accompanied by a booklet which contains the names and postal addresses of all those on the map and map references for easy location. While there have been farm location maps covering

linson said that in undertaking the project they had decided that it would be a good idea if there was a combined one covering the whole area. The project goes back to August, 1969, when the Methven chapter of the Junior Chamber were approached by Aerial Surveys, Ltd, of Nelson, to see if they were interested in this sort of venture. Subsequently three members went to Nelson to obtain more information and to report to the chapter and finally ih April this year the decision was taken to go ahead. The Nelson firm supplied the maps with roads, rivers and towns drawn in and the members of the Methven group have had the job of putting in farmers’ names in the appropriate places. In a foreword to the map set Mr Rawlinson savs that many hundreds of man hours have been spent in preparation of the mao and checking and rechecking to ensure it« accuracy. A considerable mileage has been travelled and expenditure on toll calls has been high.

Existing maps have naturally been a help,

Pleasant Point one Sunday to collect information about fanners in an area that did not seem to be included on any existing map. Rural mail men, power boards and the Post and Telegraph Department have assisted in updating names. The Methven chapter has appointed all other chapters of the Junior Chamber in the area served by the map. as Sub agents for the map sets and they are selling them on a commission basis so that their share of the profits will be retained for the benefit of the community in their particular area. This, said Mr Rawlinson, had led to some slight unavoidable delay in servicing all orders received for maps, as these had been allocated to the particular chapter in the area involved. The maps are also being sold through bookshops in Tirnaru, Ashburton and Methven. The Methven chapter’s share of the profits from the sale of the first printing of the maps is being given to the Methven High School development fund.

In the accompanying photograph Mr Rawlinson is seen inspecting one of the two maps which make up the set