As others see the South

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 18

As others see the South

As the petition seeking a degree of political autonomy for the South Island gathers signatures, might like to reflect on how their activity appears in New Zealand’s far north. This leading article appeared recently in the “New Zealand Herald,” Auckland, under the heading “Foreigners Begin at Picton”: “If the South Island secessionists carry on the way they are going, they will have only themselves to blame if their Northern compatriots take them seriously. They might even get more than they want — complete independence, for example — for the idea of having a foreign country closer than Australia has more than passing appeal up here in the North. “In some Union circles, indeed, there is already a feeling of deprivation, of regret that the French did not succeed in annexing the South when they wanted to. Just as the English enjoy the ' proximity of France for its

opportunities of romantic week-ends and duty-free wine and brandy, so Northerners would be tempted by cheap Marlborough riesling, and Otago whisky at a fraction of the price they now pay. “Certainly they would enjoy the occasional flutter in the casinos along the Cote de Cook Strait, naughty visits to the Folies Canterbere, strolls along the Left Bank of the Waimakariri, and guided tours of the Chateau Larnach at tourist concessionary rates in the offseason. Nor would Northerners say ‘Non’ to Bluff oysters and chips in the little sidewalk cafes of Invercargill, or to the whitebait fritters and bread and butter of the Westport bistros, not to mention the haggis ecossais that is the specialise d’Otago. “There is no point now, of course, in lamenting lost opportunities. In any case, the situation in which the Confederates seek to place us can be exploited to mutual advantage. Foreigners begin at Picton? We are already

foreigners to one another in all but name, for what does a Pakuranga sales executive have in common with a Blackball miner? So ‘Vive la Difference!’ must be the rallying cry, and if we in the North can wheedle some foreign aid out of the South, ‘Vive!’ indeed. “In our new-found divisive, ness, however, we must look beyond mercenary considerations. Cultural exchanges, for instance, could be encouraged. We could send them the New Ulster Symphony Orchestra, and they could send us the Kokatahi Band; we could lend them a Rotorua Maori concert party, and they could lend us a troupe of happy Otago peasants to enchant us with.their country dancing — always provided that suitable safeguards could be established against defections and applications for political asylum. “And — who knows — in return for Christchurch’s garrulous Wizard a few Northerners might even part with Tamaki’s financial wizard.”