“Cinderella” Province Of New Zealand

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1949, Page 3

“Cinderella” Province Of New Zealand

- sir —lt is a remarkable and saddening fact that the Government feels so certain of the Westland seat that the Prime Minister has visitea the electorate only about twice to talk to it since the inception of the Labour Government, and it is very seldom that a Labour M.P. ever visits it. It is not the fault of the Government as represented by Mr Nash, that the gold industry has not been wiped right out without any consideration for the miners who have given their lives to their work, and who were asked to face an uprooting of their homes, wives and families without so much as a “beg pardon.’’ Being a West Coaster myself I know what such an uprooting would mean. All this in face of a world shortage of gold. It does not make sense. j •„ 'Apart from the new aerodrome in Hokitika and the broadcasting station at "Taramakau, recent acquisitions which do not benefit the workers as a whole and the inadequate number of State houses, what work of any kind or magnitude has been sponsored by the Government in the Westland electorate during their term of office? The only noticeable activity in Greymouth over the past years, since the Labour Government took over, has been the building of a “home away from home” for the watersiders and the needless destruction of the Post Office clock. There has been some talk of a new police station but it may be only a rumour. As the West Coast has been the kindergarten of the Labour Party in the past, one would expect more sympathetic treatment, but as most of its members come from overseas they can hardly be expected to take the same interest as a born and bred New Zealander or Coaster, and so the Westland electorate remains the Cinderella of all the electorates.—Yours etc. WEST COASTER Greymouth, November 27.