REHABILITATION

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1943, Page 2

REHABILITATION

ON WEST COAST Conference at Greymouth The conference called by the Mayor of Greymouth (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) to discuss schemes for the rehabilitation of returned men on the West Coast met in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday morning. The Mayor of Greymouth presided ,and the following delegates were present: Messrs T. P. O’Neil, D. J. Evans. C. W. Stoop, W. T. N. Bond (Westland County Council), A. R Elcock, C. Caliari, D. P. Stewart (Hokitika Borough Council), K. O. May (Ross Borough Council). A. B. Spiers (Kumara Borough Council), J. Muicare, H. G. Carter, J. Higgins, Hon. J. Ryall, M.L.C. (Grey County Council), F. A. Kitchingham, H. E. Herring (Greymouth Borough Council), J. Smeaton (Brunner Borough Council), E. W. Kennedy, J. Luff, (Riinanga Borough Council), W. B. Gilbert, D. S. Kennedy (Greymouth Harbour Board), J Vallance, G. Pitman (West Coast Farmers’ Union Provincial Council), F. L. Turley (West Coast Timber Workers' Union), Mrs A. H. McKane. Mr. T. S. Shaw (Grey Rehabilitation Board), Messrs F. J. Perham (Forestry Department), B. King (Lands Department), and W. F. Harley (Automobile Association). Mr. M. J. Phillips was secretary to the conference. The chairman said that people on the West Coast had not looked to the future of their industries quite as much has they might have done. The question of rehabilitation had been evoking great interest in other parts of New Zealand, and with it was associated the establishment of industries. In the circular calling the conference it had been said that the whole of the West Coast area south of the Buller should devise a postwar policy to employ men immediately on their return from the war, and to establish permanent industries. There were certain features of the position on the West Coast to which attention might be drawn. There were many miles of roads, railways, power lines running through completely unproductive districts —districts where sawmills might have carried on in the past but had now ceased, and the roads carried no population at all. Tire area from Grey to Jackson Bay represented one-seventeenth of the area of the Dominion, but only one-sixtieth oi the population. • , Emergency landing grounds might come within the scope of local bodies, Mr. Kitchingham continued, though a national policy should be outlined by the Government. But labouring work provided nothing but a short term policy for the employment of men, and it was necessary to turn to a long range policy, more in keeping with the living standard the returning men would be entitled to. Probably the river erosion and soil conservation problem would be considered the item which should rank first in a long range policy, and while the conference would place it high' in the list of work to be done it might leave the matter in the hands of the local bodies affected. Foresty policy had been a tragedy. Though forests covered 3000 square miles and sawmilling had been going on for 80 years, the experimental station had not been highly successful. One special type of land had been selected for the experiment, but many types of land should be tried, types not nearly so hard as that selected at Rimu. If eratic trees would grow in hard soil, as at Reefton, they should grow more successfully in other parts. Much more experimentin was needed before it would be possible to launch out with a big policy. The coal mining industry, even with its present prosperity, could take big steps forward, and there were possibilities also in oil production, fire clay, and in the uses to which ganister could be put. In connection with land policy and farming the progress expected had not. been made. There were economic difficulties to be faced, and the rewards did not seem to compare with those obtained by other workers. Probably suitable blocks could be set aside at figures that would enable men to earn a living. There was no reason why the tourist industry, with the good hotels established, should not bring a big harvest to the West Coast. In the season before the war began 6500 tourists had visited Franz Josef, and of these at least 1000 were campers. Another matter worth considering was the utilisation of forest waste — paper might be made, and tannery bark utilised. Flax was also an important possibility and might turn out a very fine quality writing paper. There might be scope, for the manufacture of drain pipes. Recently an attempt had been made to establish a factory for sandals and shoes, and perhaps a stand should be taken to see that obstructions to developments of this sort were not imposed. The manufacture of soaps could be considered, and it seemed that something could be done with greenstone. The whole of industry, '. Mr. Kitchingham concluded, should be devoted to the utilisation of the raw materials available on the West Coast. Mr. May said that while new roads and railways were a good thing it ■ would be better at first to sort out industries that.could be set up or widened in scope to provide for returned men. Our last wish was to put men to labouring. Mr. Evans pointed out the great importance of having the Westland— Ot^go—Southland highway completed.**'’' This proposal was one of a series presented by the Westland County, as follows: Land Protection and Development: (I) Soil erosion and river protection. Much could be done economically’ with bulldozers in control of rivers and preventing recurrent erosion.; (2) Suggest land settlement areas suitable for returned men; (3) Desirable to obtain a report of the establishment of the flax industry; (4) Reafforestation, with a suggestion to plant Australian hardwood trees, known to flourish on the Coast, also an experimental redwood plantation. Public Works: (5) Completion of the Westland-Otago-Southland highway (already promised); (6) Railway extension south, Ross to Wat.aroa. Industrial: (7) Consideration of wood-pulping in South Westland; (8) Construction of stable landing facilities at Bruce Bav; (9) Government to encourage fish canning works at Jackson 'Bay; (10) Government to consider utilisatipn of the increasing seal colonies in southern waters; (II) Quarterly reports to be compiled and published of stock and dairy production, timber output, gold returns and other items indicating progress. Mining: (12) Mineral deposits to be examined by research parties; (13) Known reefs at the stvx divide and at Wataroa to be investigated. Tourist: (14) Greater publicity for. tourist resorts, including West Coast

Sounds, to attract overseas visitors. Commercial: (15) Relieve West Coast traffic from the special Otira Tunnel rate (in force for the past 20 years). Mr. Herring stressed the importance of permanent industries. Those who wanted to start such industries should have the support of the whole of the local bodies. Such matters as reading could be left to the Boroughs and Counties. Mr. May moved that the question of road bridge and aerodrome construction be kept till the end of the conference. Mr. Turley said that the only way to make progress was by the establishment of a general committee which would look after the interests of the West Coast as a whole. He had seen better results from afforestation in other parts of New Zealand than on the Coast, but there was idle land here where very good results could be obtained. He suggested that timber should be cut in the correct lengths before leaving the Coast. There were big timber resources within reach of the rail head at Ross and with the extension of the railway more would be available. Another fifteen years would see all 1 mills north of Grey out of business. He would like to see the opening up of all the resources of South Westland.

Mr. May moved that committee be set up, as suggested by the Mayor, to deal*with coal, forests, farming, fiqx, and other new industries, and that the chairmen of these committees form the central committee.

Mr. E. W. Kennedy said that he thought coal was one of the most essential committees on the whole fist. The West Coast had the only black coal area in New Zealand, and it was criminal to use black coals for fuel. There was much inferior coal—brown coal and lignite—up to as far as Westport, but 20 to 25 per cent of this was washed away to the sea. Something should be done about this. Mr. Smeaton supported Mr. Kenkedy and said that mining centres would be faced with big problems after the war when many of the miners would not be needed, Besides the extraction of oil, the briquette industry should be considered. The Grey district had men of very wide experience and considerable skill and such men should be included on the coal committee.

Mr. May amended his motion to give the committee power to add to their membership and, seconded by Mr. O’Neil, it was carried in this form.

Mr. Muicare said that they would have to face hostility and competition from manufacturers elsewhere, but if they did not get up and fight, for theii’ district thev would get nowhere. He thought there was a big loss in! mining because it was considered that cheap production was necessary. He had seen coal left underground because of dispute over the cost of working it. So far as farming was concerned he had seen big productivity in despised country and was satisfied there were good opportunities for men coming back. Great assistance could be given by mechanisation. Tliis confer-, ence should cement the bonds of town and country and all could get together to work for the West Coast. Mr. Vallance suggested that much could be done through the R.S.A. regarding placing soldier farmers back on the land. They could be put on the land at no cost and pay for their farms at a low rate of interest. Mr. King said that not a great deal could be done on the land in Westland. The Lands Department was l alive to the position after ithe war and would do all in its power. it '.already had a vast amount of data collected and only awaited the motive power of a definite policy. The long term problem was how to sell the goods. He suggested that four years’ work could be found in Westland for nearly 200 men if a scheme of subsidised work of improving existing lands was put into operation. COMMITTEE SET UP. The committees were set up, as follows:— Coal Committee: Mr. Smeaton and Mr. E. W. Kennedy to arrange committee. Forestry Committee: Mr. Perham (convenor), Mr. Stewart, Mr. Turley, Mr. May and Mr. Herring. Farming Committee: Mr. Vallance (convenor), Mr. Muicare, Mr. Bond and Mr. O’Neil. Flax Committee: Mr. Marshall (convenor). Mr. Whiley, 'and Mr. Ryiall. Other Industries Committee: Mr. Kitchingham (convenor). Mr. Elcock, Mr. Evans and Mr. King. Mr. Kitchingham was c’ppointed Chairman of the executive committee, of which the convenors of the committees were appointed ex-officio members. ■ Hon. J. O’Brien. Member for the District was added to the executive, and it was decided that the Chairman of the Grey and Westland Counties and the Mayors of Hokitika, Ross, and Kumara should also be made members. Brunner and Runanga were already represented through the members of the Coal Committee. On the motion of Mr. Turley it was decided that all of the committees should report to the central executive at a meeting to be held in the Borough Council Chambers at 7.30 p.m. on March 17. Mr. Muicare stressed the importance of adding a representative from, ithe Kokatahi-Koiterangi district to; the Farming Committee. Mr. Mayj suggested that representations might be made to the Oil Fuel Controller for petrol to attend meetings. The Chairman said that certain exnenses would have to be met. A sum of £25 would probably be enough to carry on the committee’s work in the meantime. Mr. Smeaton moved that local bodies contribute £25 on a population basis to pay the initial expenses. The motion was agreed to. ■ On the motion of Mr. O’Neil it was decided that the proceedings be published in pamphlet form. Mr. Evans moved that the conferences urge on the Government tne completion of the Westland-Otago-Southland main highway and the railway extension south from Rross to Wataroa. He said that both proposals were necessary if South Westland was to be opened up. They had hopes that the railway would be carried through when machinery was freed from other railway jobs; and Mr. Semple had made a promise regarding the road The motion was seconded by Mr. Turley and carried. Mr.' Herring moved that the question of all the other roads and bridges, river erosion, and soil conservation projects be left to the local bodies concerned. This motion was carried

On the motion of Mr. Evans the subiect of the provision of stable landing facilities at Bruce Bay was referred to the Forestry and Farming Committees. Mr. Evans, said that a jetty) at Bruce Bay would be more immediately useful, especially for the flax industry, than at Jackson Bay. Mr. Elcock moved that the Government be urged to set up a separate rehabilitation committee for the. district south of the Taramakau R’-v-' er. The motion was carried. Mr. E. W. Kennedy said that the conference had given no consideration to the question of outlets from the West Coast, for which more provision should be made. Grey.mouth Harbour was a thing of the past, in reply to a suggestion by the Mayor that the matter be referred to a committee, Mr. Kennedy pointed out that

it was of national importance. Mr. Luff drew attention to the necessity for building more houses. Rome soldiers had a hard job to get a home. Houses should be bunt m each district. Some men returning would be unfit for work and would not be able to pay rent. Mr. May said that the matter should not be lost sight. '-'J.. Perhaps it could be referred to the general committee. The Chairman considered it was a matter for the Rehabilitation Committee proper. The Chairman suggested that at the conclusion of the conference the nucleus of each committee should meet for half an hour to discuss their own problems and ways of tackling them. The conference, he said, augured well for the future of the West Coast. Someone had said it was more like a big Progress League, but it was not a Progress League for the Coast alone. It was to help the returning men and in helping them it would be helping the West Coast as well. , On the motion of Mr. Carter, Mr. Kitchingham was accorded a vote of thanks for his efforts.