THE ELECTION WETLAND’S POTENTIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 November 1946, Page 2

THE ELECTION WETLAND’S POTENTIAL

NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE’S VIEWS ’ . /. RELATIVELY H£AV¥ TAXATION “It is rny opinion that Westland has outstripped the rest of New Zealand in contributions to the excheader by way of timber/ cpa I, and go |cl royalties, said M’r'. E. £• Chivers, National Party candidate for Westlapd, speakipg to a large gathering of electors at Hokitika last eyenipg. Mr. Chivers said that every district in New Zealand helped to fin the coffers of the State by ordinary taxation, but that Westland made a particularly large contribution. And 1 put it to you—what have we had m return?” he asked. He said that the West Coast still produced most of the gold nunec| in New Zealand, and about 75 per uenf. of the coal. About 50 per cent, of the remaining standing timber ill tpe country was in WestlariU, and yet the annual report of the National Sei vice Department implied that the West Coast was faced with the threat of an economic decline. It “Cinderella of New Zealand. “We certainly are faced with a decline unless we bestir ourselves and become champions of our own cause, said Mr. Chivers. “Westland has a future and if I am elected to represent Westland it will not always remain what I consider it to be, the Cinderella of New Zealand, he added. . ■ Mr. Chivers said that the vulnerability of Westland’s communications with the rest of New Zealand was the province’s greatest drawback. The lack of adequate port facilities presented a problem of national importance and a solution must be found to that problem. - He said that high on his list ol essential works for Westland was the complete electrical reticulation ol the province. The advisability of extending the railway further south was another matter to be considered, he said. , “New Zealand wants greater production of primary and secondary products, and if properly and systematically handled, Westland can play an increasingly great part in supplying that demand.” High-quality timber, coal, meat, and Putter could all be produced in greater quantities, said Mr. Chivers. Discussing the need for reafforestation, the speaker said that, of the 450,000 acres of new forests planted in the Dominion, only 3000 acres had been planted in Westland, which had -paid out about £1,000,000 in timber royalties. This hardly appeared to be an equitable arrangement, he said. Publicity Needed. Mr. Chivers advocated greater publicity for the West Coast s scenic attractions, which were one of the greatest “draw-cards” in the woild. The opening of the Haast Pass route would be an added attraction, and, properly serviced and publicised, the beauty of the province could be ol great value . The Mayor of Hokitika, Mr. A. R. Elcock, presided at the meeting. Mi. Chivers was given an attentive hearing and his address was frequently interrupted by applause. A vote ol thanks, moved by Mr. R. Guthrie and seconded by Mr. N. Clay, was cairied by acclamation. At an earlier meeting at Kaihinti Mr Chivers was also given an attentive hearing. Mr. C. Cook was m the chair. A vote of thanks to the speaker was moved by Mr. D. H. Kartell and seconded by Miss M. E. McCann. hearing aidsFand cripples APPLIANCES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 4. Further details of the Government’s plans for the provision, undei the Social Security scheme, of hearing aids, appliances for cripples, and dental care for adolescents were given by the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) in an address to employees ol the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Co., Ltd. He said it was hoped tc have hearing aids made in Auckland by a company which, he thought, was a British one, operating in the city. “We plan to go on with the service, and I have the regulations in connection with dental treatment, Mr Nash said, after discussing school dental clinics. He said it was planned, in the next two years, to bring in on top of children already being treated another 100,000 adolescents “They will get full dental treatment, and we will have to start negotiations with dentists,” the Minister added. . . “We are also doing some work m connection with crippled children and deficiencies in older people. Some time between now and the end ol March we will be providing either special boots or the difference between special boots and ordinary ones. The Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) plans to provide the difference between ordinary and special footwear. That will apply to all instruments and mechanical devices that are required. . “The’major one, of course, is hearing aids,” Mr. Nash continued. “I know what some of the makers of hearing aids charge. I paid £35 for my sister to get one.” The Minister said the Government planned to make an arrangement so that either the whole price of a hearing aid or something towards it would be made available, so that everyone requiring an aid could get it. The announcement he had made in the House of Representatives on the subject had almost bankrupted the manufacturer of aids, Mr. Nash said, because people had seen the chance of getting cheaper appliances. The Government intended, however, to make an arrangements whereby this manufacturer would not, as he had thought, be making fewer aids, but many more, unless he wanted to charge too much. “All the Minister of Finance has to do is to And the money,” he added, amid laughter.

MR. FRASER WELL RECEIVED ’• " AT BLENHEIM (P.A..) BLENHEIM, November 4. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) ' received an enthusiastic welcome with musical honours from more than 700 citizens of Blenheim tonight, in His Majesty’s Theatre. The Mayor, Mr. W. J. Girling, a former member of the House of Representa-, fives, presided. Mr. E. P. Meachen, Labour candidate for Marlborough, was also on the stage. A vote of thanks’and confidence in the Labour Government was carried with applause, ■ ' ’ s