THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1949. PROSPECTS IN THE SOUTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27211, 14 October 1949, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1949. PROSPECTS IN THE SOUTH

As gold played an important part in the development oL the South Island in the past, so will the utilisation of its % natural sources of power supply' influence its future progress—and, in the present state of scientific knowledge, it would appear that it will be much more permanent in its operation. The limits to the industrialisation of the North Island are rapidly becoming apparent, and already the availability of power is a determining factor. One instance of this was provided in Parliament on Wednesday when the Minister of Industries and Commerce disclosed that consideration was being given to the possibility of treating iron concentrates economically in the South Island because the power potential was much greater there. On an earlier occasion the Minister of Works stated that the location of future industrial development would be influenced by the availability of power ip the South and by other factors. The position is therefore known to the Government —as it ought • to be —but it has not been borne in on its members that ,they have a responsibility to plan in advance for such a change. If the matter is left, circumstances will bring about a solution in the process of time, but it would be accompanied by much dislocation of the industrial and social structure of the country, and this could be avoided.

Some years ago much was heard of a 10-year development plan of public works. It was really little more than a listing of works already authorised or projected, but progress has not been notable and there has been little evidence 'that any priorities are . being given to roading or construction undertakings in the South in order to prepare for the influx of population which should begin to be apparent by the end of that decade. Such activity as has been manifested has been .in respect of wqrk already due or overdue. The needs' of, the future are apparently being left to the men of the future to deal with. Housing is one matter in which the policy of neglect is apparent. In a report which we print® elsewhere in this issue the estimate is made by the Housing Sub-committee of the Otago Development Council that a major development plan for Dunedin would require provision, of areas for at least 2500 State houses and an adequate number of sites for private builders. It was stated recently that the South Island last year had 370 fewer State rental houses than it was entitled' to on a' population basis. Where there is housing available there will alsq be labour, and labour will be increasingly required in the South Island. It if pertinent-to recall the decision only last week that the Taieri aerodrome was adequate for Dunedin’s requirements. The announcement was made by one of the local parliamentary representatives and /was ■ not even commented 'upon* by the other three. The moral 'is that not only a change of policy towards the South is needed, but in many instances there must be changes in the parliamentary representation by electing men who will advance local interests to replace those who are little more than units in their party’s voting strength..