A ‘most exciting potential’

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 24

A ‘most exciting potential’

MR W. E. WOODS

For 50 years the Selwyn electorate has suffered more than its fair share of neglect with National members of Parliament, says the Labour Party candidate for Selwyn, Mr Bill Woods. He says the potential in the Selwyn electorate is the most exciting of all electorates in the South Island, but it will take a Labour member of Parliament to make it all possible. ■ “We ’have our mountains for recreation and forest production, fertile plains for increased production in agriculture and horticulture, and the glorious Banks Peninsula, which has almost everything, including fishing, agriculture, horticulture and recreation.” These resources have never been developed under National and it is unlikely

that this will change, Mr Woods says. It will take a considerable amount of money and National’s “think big” programme will absorb all the available finance, leaving very little for developments in Selwyn. “The situation makes me suspect that short term economics will prevail and the longer term problems will be ignored,” he says.

Mr Woods says a great deal of Government money is already spent in Selwyn on defence bases at Wigram and Burnham, Lincoln College, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Templeton Hospital and Training School, and on the three' penal institutions. Selwyn’s member of Parliament has to ensure that this money is spent wisely. He sees the main issues facing New Zealand as unemployment, regional development, taxation, .the cost of living, and housing. Within the electorate he says conservation of the Waimakariri and the Rakaia rivers' and of the national parks are important. Erosion in the high country is a problem, he says, as are neglect of rural towns, and

the high cost and availability of transport.

While the conservation ot rivers is important, Mr Woods recognises that Selwyn needs irrigation for increased production and to allow further processing of products. Both would increase job opportunities. “I believe that the voters of Selwyn are prepared to accept me as their member, because they feel a sense of security and closeness with me. I am established in the electorate and have shown that I am a reliable person who has worked hard for them for a considerable time." Aged 39, Mr Woods is married, with two children. He has lived in Selwyn for 18 years and stood for Labour in 1978. He is a poultry farmer and storekeeper.