Regional loan praised

Press, 19 August 1977, Page 3

Regional loan praised

Parliamentary reporter ;( A notice of motion con-|i gratulating the on offering a special regio-1 nal-development suspensory] loan of $250,000 to Mosgiel,'; Ltd, to help in finalising ne- ’ i gotiations for the future i( running of the Alford Forest ; Mill, Ashburton, was : presented in Parliament i yesterday by Mr R, L. G i Talbot (National, South i Canterbury). • i The motion describes the (offer as “an extraordinary: jmeasure of assistance in rec- ; lognition of the important] regional-employment and 1 industrial-retention questions i involved” and commends the ;

Government “for this out-l standing recognition of the; regional-development re-1 quirements in the stouthern Canterbury regional-devel-opment area." Mr Talbot said later that announcements by the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Adams-Schneider) regarding the future of the Alford Forest Mill and the linen-flax industry in Geraldine were unique in the history of regional development in New Zealand. After the conclusion of] negotiations between Mosgiel and Lane Walker Rudkin, Ltd, Ashburton would be able to look forward to a continuation of a viable and growing textile industry.

I Mr Talbot also welcomed the successful conclusion to (negotiations which would j give a private group an opportunity to develop the linen-flax industry on a . sound economic footing. The group had been given “a wonderful opportunity” to develop and diversify a unique New Zealand industry which would receive all possible support from the district and the Government. “The regional-development scene in southern Canter’ibury is at a most interesting • and challenging stage,” said •Mr Talbot. “The GovernI ment's realistic and positive i approach at a time of econI omic stringency is most encouraging.”