Busiest people are the builders

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33263, 28 June 1973, Page 22

Busiest people are the builders

fßy staff eepoctct.

P. J. TAYLOR)

It's in the air on the West Coast—a fresh sense of confidence in the area and what it holds. Many plans in the past did not reach fruition, but now the feeling is that the West Coast will develop greatly. The present Government has made it clear that it wants to see the West Coast prosper, to provide greater employment opportunities. The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) said during his election campaign on the West Coast that he wanted to see an end to the situation ti-horA manv vmmo nAnnlo

nap to leave home to rind work. The post-election period brought a flurry of activity The Minister of Works an’c Development (Mr Watt) anc his associate and Minister of Mines (Mr Colman) were on the West Coast to assess the immediate needs, anc announce that the Govern ment would pay the ful wages of the unemployec taken on by local bodies a; as interim measure. Then the Minister 01 Trade and Industry (Mi Freer) arrived, addressee local body representatives and called for nomination; for the proposed Regiona Industrial Development Council. From a large field the Minister made hi; choices, and the council i; now in operation, prepar ing and considering in dustrial development work; in the province. Even before the counci camp in tn heina a hpu

firm. Ma tai Industries, Ltd. headed by a former West Coast man, Mr K. F. Meates. had been formed, with plans for factories in Westport, Reefton and Greymouth. The company has already started producing plastic products in Westport, and the first consignment is on its way to the United States. The Criterion Theatre, in Reefton, purchased by the company, has already been found to be inadequate to contain the labour force available, and a second plant is to be established in another building in the town. A woodware production plant has begun operation at Karoro, Greymouth's southern suburb, while the company has also acquired the Regent Theatre in Greymouth for a meta! and diecasting works, and a former bakehouse building which will become a tool-making plant. A further 300 acres in

the Paroa area has been bought by the company lor development, and in' the last week, Matai Industries have announced plans for industry in Runanga. with proposals to purchase the Miners’ Hall and the former St Joseph’s convent school. The policy of this company is certain to be followed by other manufacturing industries—a Christchurch firm plans to begin frame manufacturing for lounge suites in Cobden—joining in the swing to regionalisation. The busiest people on the Coast at the moment are the builders. On the Greymouth scene alone, a new three-storey Government building is well undet way, the West Coast Electric Power Board’s new headquarters building will be officially opened in August, and further wards are being constructed at the Grey Hospital, base hospital for the West Coast