WESTLAND’S PROSPECTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1945, Page 2

WESTLAND’S PROSPECTS

OFFICER’S GLOOMY OUTLOOK “This represents just about the summit of bureaucracy’s display of universal knowledge, but the people of Westland and. of Buller also, are not going to throw up the sponge just because of the wail of the National Service Director.” This comment by Mr. J. Saunders; Secretary to the League, typified the re-action of members to extracts from the annual report of the National Service Department referring to the West Coast which was tabled at last evening’s meeting of the Council of the Westland District Progress League. Mr. Saunders said that the report had gone before Parliament arid the facts contained in it had never been contradicted. When he had noticed the contents he had immediately telegraphed the Director of National Service, Mr. Bockett, asking for the name of its author only to receive the reply that he, as director of the National Service Department, would accept full responsibility. The remarks regarding the West Coast, he added, were intended to draw attention to the need for developing other industries so as to provide full employment lor the after-war period. The extracts from the report, to which offence was taken are the following:

“The problem of special areas (due to the advanced decline of industry) that exists in Wales has no counterpart in New Zealand. The West Coast of the South Island, which comes nearest to being a special area in this sense, does not, on account of its small population and the mobility of its labour, present any irremediable employment problem. Apart from the decline of small erstwhile gold and coal towns and the arrested development of small townships within close vehicular reach of larger towns, population, and hence industrial activity, has increased in varying degrees everywhere in New Zealand. With a population of approximately 40,900, the West Coast zone is easily the smallest. It merits especial consideration on account of its geographical isolation and the long-term threat of economic decline which it faces. Farming in this zone is relatively unimportant and less efficient by comparison with the dairy-farming technique of the North Island and Southland. The main fields of economic activity continue to be coalmining and timber-milling, and this must be expected to continue for some years. Rigorous climatic conditions and most restricted employment have led to a STEADY EXODUS from the coast to more favourable areas. For some years after the war such industries as coal-mining and timber-milling can be expected to maintain their present high level of activity (there has been considerable expansion during the war years), but ultimately the exhaustion of coal stocks as hydro-electric power generation becomes more, important will pose the question of whether to establish further industries on the Coast — for example, woollen and clothing manufacture —or whether to stimulate the out-flow of manpower from the Coast to centres of industry elsewhere. The wholesale development of exotic and indigenous afforestation projects on the West Coast appears to afford considerable scope for the engagement of male labour. The two towns affected are now discussed: —Westport.—This centre depends almost entirely on coal and timber, with some dairy-farming activity. There is little prospect of industrial expansion, and the employment avenues for women in particular are most limited. The present labour position is satisfactory, with a keen demand for fit men in sawmills and coal-mining, etc. Greymouth:— Much the same picture as is seen in Westport is presented here. Timber and coal and gold mining all have a limited life, while the climate and location do not favour the development of primary industries. Labour of almost all kinds is at present fairly scarce, and likely to remain so for some time. As in the case of Westport employment opportunities for women have been, most limited, although a small clothing factory which has opened during the war will correct this position to an extent. Nevertheless, the normal outflow of female labour from the district is expected to continue.”

Mr. Saunders pointed out that there was no data available as to the probable life of coal stocks, but hydropower must increase, it being known that the coal supply was not inexhaustible and that the present position of the coal industry enabled a small section of the community to crucify the rest. He noted that in its reference to new industries on the Coast, the report did not refer to a shoe factory, and was silent as to how industry, particularly in that case, was ‘hamstrung by the scientifically perfect bureaucrat system.” “When he talks of transplanting the population, he is just silly,” continued Mr. Saunders, adding that the tourist possibilities and potentialities had been forgotten, and pointed out that Westland had been despoiled of her forest revenue to create forests in the parts the writer considered more suitable for settlement. 1 “It is a frightful and disgraceful state of affairs,” he commented as he moved that a copy of the report be forwarded to all local bodies on the West Coast from Westport to Hokitika, the Regional Planning Council and to the member for the district, Mr. O’Brien, “The report will show the local bodies that they will have to get behind the League, and put the Coast on the map and not under the sea as this report has done.” Mr. W. F. Harley said he supposed that the report had been written by some one just blown into the place five minutes and who had known nothing about the place. Mr. R. J. Truman pointed out that three factories were to open on the West Coast .early in the New Year. Mr. Chivers asked why, in the face of the report, presumably from a responsible Government officer, was the Government proceeding with Regional Planning for the Coast? Other members commented on the report, and the motion was carried unanimously.