Govt ‘must heed’ Westland’s voice

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 5

Govt ‘must heed’ Westland’s voice

“The time has now come when the voice of the people of Westland must be heeded by the Government,” said an open letter issued yesterday to seek support for the protection of forestry workers’ jobs. The letter, signed by the secretary of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union, Mr Roy Beadle, and the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association spokesman, Mr Lionel Gillions, has been sent to West Coast local body leaders and to various Ministers. The union and the association said they were disappointed that the acceptance of a tender for the beech sale of 150,000 cubic metres a year had been postponed by a decision of the Government “which in our opinion is the result of pressures from the conservation lobby. “Although only postponed, the delay in getting the beech scheme operating is a setback to the area and continuing negotiations are essential to see that it is not cancelled completely,” the letter said.

“On a slightly brighter side, it is pleasing to read that the Minister of Forests, Mr Wetere, has announced the Government’s first hesitating steps to extend some of the sawmilling licences in Karamea and Buller. In fact, it should be only a start towards the extension

of all existing sawmill licences in the Buller, until the alternative species (initially radiata and later beech and alternative species) are ready for production.”

The announcement of an extension date has certainly improved an illogical proposed timing of replies and proposals. By extending the licences to the end of July, 1986, there is now a possibility that a sensible package for forestry, sawmilling and timber industry processing in Westland can be agreed by those concerned for their future. “The sawmillers and the timber workers have combined their efforts and put a proposal to the Government covering the future of sawmilling and forestry in Westland. This proposal is developed to maintain and continue all existing jobs and business opportunities in so far as the forest is concerned, both production and development, on a relatively small proportion of and in Westland, 226,000 hectares,” the letter said.

“We the sawmillers and the timber workers will be pleased to work with the newly set up commercial Forestry Corporation with the likely Government direction to operate the production forests on a sustained yield basis. “Naturally the , species

used or produced will change from time to time. But production should and will be based on commercial viability for the benefit of the people of Westland as well as the on flowing benefits of other parts of New Zealand. “We have listened to the conservation organisations and noted their ever demanding call to lock up our land and forests into reserves and or national parks as well as taking away our employment and replacing it with cottagetype industries which are foreign to our workers in the timber industry. “We consider that having approximately 87 per cent of the land and forests of Westland outside of the 13 per cent we require for production forests, will leave more than sufficient opportunities for all conservation requirements and tourist development. The West Coast had through its community leaders and organisations made extensive submissions and attended meetings at ministerial level, trying to convince the Government of what they considered was best for the people of Westland.

“We have also submitted lengthy submissions but we consider we have only had the courtesy of being listened to,” the letter said.