Mr Lange Joins aid call for Coast timber firm

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 3

Mr Lange Joins aid call for Coast timber firm

Greymouth reporter The troubled plywood manufacturer, Aorangi Forest Industries, “screamed out for attention,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lange, in Greymouth yesterday. The company was using a natural resource and developing export markets, he said. Aorangi is having financial problems and is seeking assistance from the Treasury. Mr Lange said, “We are not in the business of exporting logs with bark on. That plant has traded profitably. It and others like it are to the forefront of our philosophy. It is this sort of industry that the Govern-

ment should target money at and this is where we will target money.” Mr Lange also expressed concern about the effects that the Government’s popu-lation-based funding policy for hospitals was having on the West Coast. The geography of the West Coast was such that often great distances had to be travelled to reach a hospital. “Because of such variables, areas such as the West Coast must provide services which are sometimes in excess of requirements,” he said. “The needs of the community must be recognised and this is what is required

on the Coast.” Mr Lange, who said he was on a familiarisation visit, said Labour would look at the development on the West Coast of transport services, industries, tourism, and exotic forestry. A continuation of a rail passenger service was more important than the alpine road routes in emergencies, because of the area’s situation, he said. The Government had in 1981 said that it would develop 10,000 ha of exotic forest on the West Coast, he said. “This would require a planting rate of about 300 ha a year. Apparently about 50ha is being achieved — so much for promises.”