South ‘must have maximum support’

Press, 22 September 1978, Page 4

South ‘must have maximum support’

The South Island must demand better representation in Parliament to ensure maximum Government support for development, according to the president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr M. R. Good).

Mr Good spoke on the; topic “Does Christchurch I have a future?” to the, Canterbury Institute of Man-; agetnent yesterday. He said] that Christchurch was trying to do something for itself by! developing the airport, and! the port of Lyttelton, but) “we are being denied pro-i press by Government deci-| sions, or the lack of them.” “Lyttelton should not be| denied the opportunity to; develop efficient container-I handling facilities, and sol share the container traffic to! the South Island,” he said. Mr Good said that Christ- j church was hardly an attrac-i tive destination for the j American tourist when it was not listed as an entry; point to New Zealand. “If Air New Zealand isj

I unwilling to provide this I service on the grounds of .lack of demand, then it i should have no objection to any other airline’s starting Isuch a service,” he said. On unemployment, Mr I Good said that it was better | to retain staff in their present jobs, thus avoiding, I difficulty in re-establishing an efficient work-force when ithe economy improved. ; It was regretable that politicians were already using | the "iron bridge” concept for ! party-political purposes. Mr Good said that there i was scope in Christchurch ifor greater intensification of I farming, but there would] have to be positive benefits; [to the farmer through in-1 centives. He also said that the fut- :

ure of Christchurch lay in the development of tourism. There would always be some population drift to the north, Mr Good said, but conditions for industry in Christchurch should be made as favourable as possible, to encourage businesses to remain.

Amalgamation of local bodies in and around Christ- | church was essential, and (would provide greater opi portunity for the combined local body to encourage industry to develop.

: Christchurch had a future, land the sooner those who (lived here believed in it the sooner it would be determined, Mr Good said.