Chatham Is. ‘to be set adrift’

Press, 19 June 1986, Page 30

Chatham Is. ‘to be set adrift’

PA Wellington The Chatham Islands are about to be "set adrift,” say two Opposition members of Parliament. Mr Winston Peters (Tauranga) and Mr Roger Maxwell (Taranaki) have just returned from a fiveday “fact-finding tour” to the islands, and said they were “appalled at the division developing between the islanders and the mainland.” The recent review report on the islands’ future had provoked despair from the inhabitants, they said. “Despite the marvellous contribution of the islands to New Zealand’s export wealth, the review committee has followed the Treasury line of subjecting the island economy to some mythical market force regime,” they said. The report, released in May, called for big rises in transport prices and closing the islands’ meat; works. '

Messrs Peters and Maxwell said the islanders felt their resources had been plundered by the mainland. “They cannot understand why the present Government has departed from the previous Governmental policy of support to them for the mutual benefit of both the Chathams and New Zealand. “We believe the islands are a special case because of their geographical isolation and their importance from a strategic and economic viewpoint. “Here are New Zealanders who have made tremendous sacrifices to build up a considerable export wealth.” They said the islanders were being ignored in favour of an economic policy that cared little for people. “Out of sight should not be out of mind.”