Conference rejects Coast forestry plea

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 8

Conference rejects Coast forestry plea

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

An impassioned plea by West Coast delegates to allow continued chipping of Westland beech forests was rejected by the Labour Party conference by a two-to-one majority.

The conference decided that “in view of the Forest Service’s decision to sell beech trees from North Westland and Buller for woodchips, all the reserves and wildlife corridors recommended by the D.S.I.R. and Wildlife Service be set aside for future generations, including Oparara (9600 ha and

Ngakawau (ll.OOOha).”

The Minister of Forests, Mr Wetere, said the remit was an extension of Government forestry policy. He hoped the review committee due to report back to the Government by October on future options for the region would take the views of West Coast people into account.

Passing the remit would close the timber mills in the region and cost many jobs, said Mr Chris Teichert of Granity. West' Coast people objected vehemently to their future being decided by people in Wellington or Auckland

who had never been there. Such attitudes increased the already high unemployment on the West Coast and simply locked up land unproductively.

Ms Tina Sims of Reefton said forestry was a big employer in the region and all West Coast delegates were opposed to the remit.

She urged other delegates to respect the local knowledge of the West Coast delegates and warned that Labour was risking voter support by persisting with such attitudes.