MARLBOROUGH

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 14

MARLBOROUGH

Another electorate in which interest in the election is keen is Marlborough where the sitting Labour member, Mr I. J. Brooks, is being challenged by a former mayor of Picton, Mr B. J. Dalliessi, candidate for the National Party. Mr Brooks's majority at the 1970 by-election was 1043, against Mr A. W. Shand. The Social Credit candidate is Mr G. R. Kerr, and Mr T. W. Macdonald, of Blenheim, is the New Democrat candidate.

As one-third of school leavers have to leave the district, one of the main election issues in Marlborough will be the lack of industrial growth, says Mr lan Brooks, former Post Office toll room senior clerk, who is completing his first three years in Parliament. “The trouble is that we still do not have the job opportunities for young people and consequently many have to leave home and either seek work in Wellington or Christchurch,” he says. He sees a need for active encouragement by Government of suitable industrial growth for the area to provide the necessary jobs people need. “This could be done by looking at such things as freight rates, leasing of factories, finance to help establishment of new industry and electricity charges,” he adds. “There is a stable work force available which is just as cheap as anywhere else.” Mr Brooks makes the point that he does not favour establishing just any industry in Marlborough, particularly that which would harm the environment, but he does think there is a case for small specialist industries, employing in each plant 50 or so people, to be encouraged.

The quiet, unassuming member from Blenheim admits that being elected at the by-election after the death of Mr Tom Shand has meant "quite a change” in his life style. He also concedes that he did not quite expect to be elected, although he was optimistic of reducing his opposition’s majority. This time? “I feel I will hold Marlborough seat in spite of the boundary change cutting my majority in half,” he says. Mr Brooks claims strong leadership from the Government is needed on issues such as protection of the environment, sales of New Zealand property to foreigners and absentee owners. His electorate now extends to just south of the Hurunui River and its western boundary is virtually the Southern Alps. Hanmer, he says, and other districts in the area have had a raw deal. He has some strong opinions on the development of the town’s thermal resources and maintains there is a sound case for the Government giving financial help. “Excellent plans have

been prepared but the cost of constructing new ther- • mal pools is estimated at around $150,000,” he adds. “A fund-raising campaign has begun, but there is an onus on the Government to help with something in the order of a dollar for dollar subsidy, especially as the Amuri County Council has agreed to maintain the pools. “There are only a few ratepayers in the area, and they cannot be saddled with too great an expenditure.” Mr Brooks says people must be encouraged to go into areas like Hanmer which should not be allowed to suffer from the drift to the larger centres, and closing of industry. Asked whether he had developed any particular interests while in Parliament, Mr Brooks said he had been a member of the petitions committee and added with frankness: “During this my first term I have tried to learn as much as possible about various subjects. I am keenly interested in lands.” The concerns of people in Marlborough, he adds, are much the same as those of people in the rest of New Zealand —lack of industrial growth, housing, forestry development, the need for upgrading education and better hospital and medical services. Mr Brooks says people tell him he has done a reasonable job of representing them for the last three years and they will find no reason to reject him at the polls.

The fact that his father emigrated to New Zealand from Italy in 1925 and worked his way up in the hotel trade has a lot to do with Mr Bruno Dalliessi’s approach to politics. “In New Zealand, a man can take the opportunities available in a democracy and a National Government embodies the idea of free enterprise and ownership which I believe in, rather than State control and ownership.” he says. Aged 37. Bruno followed his father in the hotel trade, but not before he had spent seven months living in Italy taking a good look at the trade there, and of course at the homeland of his father. He recalls, incidentally, that after taking Latin at high school in Oamaru learning the language was no problem. With a sister, he bought the Terminus Hotel at Picton which he ran for eight years. Then came a period of working on the wharf and as a freezing worker.

“After working mainly for myself, this experience gave me a true appreciation of working with people,” he says.

An interest in local body work led to six years as Mayor of Picton and for the last two and a half years he and his family have lived in Blenheim where he runs a commercial building development business. This began with the construction of flats—Mr Dalliessi worked as a carpenter on the site —and the present project consists of a 19,000 sq. ft block of shops and offices in Blenheim worth around $200,000. “Seme people may criticise me for being successful, but no-one would want a politician who had been unsuccessful because the Government is about the biggest business in the country,” says Mr Dalliessi. “And I don’t believe in being successful at the expense of people; it is against my Christian principles.”

Success, he adds, also brings risks and responsibility. “People tend to turn to you for advice and help —you can either give it or ignore people. It was the desire to help people that was behind my entry into local body work and I am pleased to have had a part in Picton’s development.” SPRINGBOK TOUR As a delegate to a National Party conference in Christchurch several years ago, Mr Dalliessi spoke out strongly against a move to liberalise the abortion laws. "I have strong moral principles against abortion,” he says, “and I’m pleased the National Government has not amended the law.” On the Springbok tour issue, he considers the Government should not interfere with the right of sports bodies to invite anyone they wish to New Zealand. “I don’t agree with the government policy in South

Africa, but I think we should be prepared to play the Springboks at Rugby just as they have been prepared to play an all-Maori team.” Asked about needs in Marlborough. Mr Dalliessi says on the question of regional development, soma people get more emotional than factual. He says the area has the third fastest growth rate in the country and while there is a need for more industrial development it must conv plement the provincial and peaceful wav of life. It must also include development of existing industries. Mr Dalliessi regards as important the retention of the R.N.Z.A.F. base at Woodbourne, which sustains a work force of around 900 and involves the payment of $3 million in wages alone. Asked if he regards it as necessary to the country, he says: “We pay only a token amount in defence, compared with other countries in the world. “And the services are not only necessary to maintain our external commitments, but also for internal security —to deal with pressure groups, anarchists and revolutionaries should this be necessary.” In local government Mr Dalliessi expresses concern over the increasing rate burden, particularly on pensioners and those on fixed incomes.

“1 believe their rates should be stabilised when they have ceased earning,” he says.

“Local bodies also nped to look at some re grouping and greater co-operation for better utilisation of equipment and personnel.”

Asked what he wants to achieve if elected, he says: “I want to be a good representative of the people, to press for their needs and do everything in my power to achieve what is in their interests,.”

Awatere farmer, Mr George Kerr, is a long-time Social Crediter ana has stood for Marlborough at each election since 1954. He runs some sheep and milking cows on a small farm and also works as a machine operator for the Awatere County Council. He is married with three children, and says two welfare children live with him on the farm as part of the family. Aged 59, and grandfather of three, Mr Kerr says there is a great need to stabilise farm income as well as rating and local body finance. He also sees a need for a differential freight rate to boost South Island manufacturers and producers, enabling them to compete on equal terms with traders in the North Island. Mr Kerr also says there is a need for much more emphasis by the Government on education in all fields, and social security needs a complete reorganisation. He is a long-standing member of the Marlborough College Board of Governors and has played a leading part in the regional organisation of the league for many years.