'Not all roses' in Ashburton

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33478, 8 March 1974, Page 10

'Not all roses ' in Ashburton

Much had to be done in the town before Ashburton could be envisaged as a city, the secretary of the Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Labour Party (Mrs J. Lilley) said in a statement yesterday.

She said it was with great interest that members of the branch had followed opposition to the proposed new city at Rolleston by the Mayor of Ashburton (Mr D. O. Digby). Mr Digby recently led a deputation to the Minister of Works (Mr Watt) seeking abandonment of the Rolleston plan in favour of industrial development in South Island! centres.

He expressed concern that Rolleston would draw industrial development which might otherwise become established in towns such as Ashburton.

Mrs Lilley said the branch felt that there were first things to be attended to ini the town before it was expanded. When' the Mayor: went to other South Island local bodies for support, was he going to enlighten them to these facts, or “was he going to paint a rosy picture that is only a pipe dream of his own?”

The people of Ashburton paid the rates to provide facilities necessary for the welfare and advancement of their town.'" and they should be given the opportunity to acquaint the council with their wishes in regard to the spending of all large sums of money.

It would be wonderful to encourage new industry in the town, but a reclaimed site such as the council had prepared for industry should not be built on for at least eight to ten years, so “why the rush?” Mrs Lilley asked. With the establishment of

new industry would come an influx of workers, who would need somewhere to live. Housing in Ashburton was already short. Then there was the sewerage system. If a city was envisaged. would the present scheme be adequate?' After having water restrictions throughout the sum[mer. from where was all the [water which would be needed to supply the increased industry and population in the town to come? Ashburton had the finest volunteer fire brigade in New Zealand working under pri-. [mitive conditions, and “onej : wonders when they are to get) their new fire station. Priori-; [ties seem to have flown out [the window.” The Mayor had admitted at the council meeting earlier [this week that the shortage : of staff was holding up ordinary maintenance work, and [yet he expected to staff new industries, she said. A vigilant watch was needed to ensure that the river running through the town was kept clean. There was also the question of “huge” stock trucks rumbling through the main street. “Perhaps the Mayor could i ask the Mayors of Timaru and Temuka how they diver- | ted stock trucks from their [main street.

I “There may be other things but we wish to urge ratepayers to consider some of these things before they yell for the moon,” Mrs Lilley said.