THE SOUTH ISLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 4

THE SOUTH ISLAND

advancement of interests PLANS FOR DEFINITE ACTION (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 12. The mayors of South Island cities and boroughs and the chairmen of local bodies are to be invited by the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr E. H. Andrews, to attend a conference in Christchurch shortly which will have as its object the advancement of the South Island—or, in the words of Mr Andrews. “to convince the Government and Government officials in Wellington that New Zealand does not end at Cook Strait.” The date of the conference has not yet been fixed, but in the meantime Mr Andrews has written to the mayors and chairmen of local bodies asking for suggestions as to suitable subjects for discussion. “Among the subjects' which are certain to be raised.” said Mr Andrews to-day, “ are the disadvantage at which the South Island is placed bv the present shipping arrangements, the encouragement of industry in the south, the danger of the centralisation of Government activities in the North Island, especially Wellington, and the steps to be taken to ensure that the South Island receives fair treatment in the settlement and rehabilitation schemes. “The South Island in the past has just sat down and allowed the North Island to take a bigger and bigger share of the national life,” said Mr Andrews. “Unfortunately, our own members of Parliament have, with few exceptions, never very active on our behalf, so that the drift to the North Island has gone on and on. Now the South Island is outvoted in Parliament by nearly two to one. “ In the days when the tourist traffic was important to New Zealand consideration was always given first to the North Island, although the South Island’s scenery is far and away better. We in the South Island have got to see that that does not happen again after the war,” said Mr Andrews. He added that Government boards habitually gave an overwhelming preponderance of membership to North Islanders.