August meeting on S.I. development

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32945, 17 June 1972, Page 16

August meeting on S.I. development

The South Island Local Bodies’ Association at a meeting in Christchurch yesterday agreed to accept an invitation from the South Island Promotion Association to combine in forming a deputation to meet the Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) to discuss development of the South Island.

A letter from the Promotion Association said that Mr Marshall was willing to come to Christchurch on a Saturday in August to discuss the development of the South Island. The letter said that “in our view it is useless to submit any more economic and statistical data —we want the ear of the Prime Minister for an hour or so to discuss regional development.” Members expressed satisfaction with the news that they would have an opportunity to put their views to Mr Marshall and tell him what was needed for “the good of the country.” It was agreed that the Local Bodies’ Association be represented by the president (Mr V. J. Corbett, Kaikoura), the secretary (Mr F. G. K. Gilchrist), and Messrs D. R. Dowell (Christchurch), C. R. Hervey (Timaru), and J. G. Barnes (Dunedin).

Submissions from members of other areas could be given to the secretary in writing before the meeting and put by a representative at the meeting, it was decided. The meeting passed a resolution asking the Minister of Electricity (Mr Gandar) for a “a clear-cut statement on what is the potential of hydro-electric power available in the South Island, and the intentions of the Government regarding development of power and where it is to be iised." It was agreed to ask the Minister for Local Government (Mr Highet) to address the association's annual conference in October and also to ask the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) or his nominee and a third "nonpolitical” person to give addresses. MOTION PASSED A motion put by Mr Hervey that the meeting was concerned about the apparent continued failure of the Government to announce its proposals for regional and planned development of the South Island and the decentralisation of industry was passed. Mr Mark Wallace (Westland) said he strongly supported the resolution, as it showed the Government that the association was "really in earnest about getting something done.”' '