Labour rebukes Govt on regional policy

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 8

Labour rebukes Govt on regional policy

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

A stinging rebuke was delivered to the Government during the week-end for its failures to implement Labour regional development policy. Delegate after delegate at the party’s conference criticised the Minister of Regional Development, Mr Burke, and the criticism was particularly vehement from South Island delegations. A remit was passed overwhelmingly, “That dismay be expressed at the lack of progress in implementing the 1984 regional development policy, and that this be implemented immediately.”

Mr Chris Trotter (Dunedin) accused the Government of trying to “de-industrialise” the South Island as the Thatcher Government in

Britain had in Scotland, Wales and northern England.

"Government policies are inadequate to halt the slide in businesses, jobs and population, away from the South Island,” he said.

“The South Island is becoming a colony of Auckland.”

A remit calling for the Wellington region to be recognised as a declining region and so accorded industry development incentives was lost.

Ms Julie Walters (Fendalton) described the suggestion as “A sick joke to the people of Christchurch” and speakers were divided over the proposition, finding it either ludicrous or offensive.

Mr David Polson (Oamaru) said it was not just South Island farmers who were being hurt, al-

though news media attention seemed to be focused almost solely on millionaire farmers in difficulty.

South Island rural servicing communities and provincial economies were in deep trouble, he said.

Tourism might be the answer for Central Otago, but for coastal towns and cities along the south and east coasts of the South Island the position was desperate and many people, particularly the unemployed, were getting very angry.

Government policies were forcing people in Southland, South Canterbury, and other South Island regions to shift to Auckland if they wanted to live and work, no matter what ties they might have with their home communities, Mr Polson said.