ADDRESS BY BAY MEMBER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 52, 27 February 1945, Page 6

ADDRESS BY BAY MEMBER

GISBORNE FARMERS' UNION

PROBLEM OF REHABILITATION

Addressing members of the Pov- ; erty Bay Farmers' Union at their ' monthly meeting, Mr Sullivan M.P. for Bay of Plenty, said that rehabilitation was not a party political matter. Many men had gone overseas from the district and it was their duty to ensure that the many who would be returning to their former homes were gh r en the Opportunities they were entitled to. "As far as rehabilitation is concerned things are. definitely sticky " Mr Sullivan went on. "There is little land available in the possession of the Crown or offered and there is something wrong when in the Bay of Plenty houses are. almost as far apart as villages. We must face up to the facts and realise that the gap between the purchase price of a farm and the cost of its development to an economic unit will have to be filled by the State." Referring to Mr Sullivan said that forestry in New Zealand could be built up to a point where it would be an important primary industry and there were, some suitable areas for the purpose in the Gisborne district. He considered unwise the policy of confining forestry to the centre of the North Island maintaining that it should be. spread, making areas within easy reach of the population. "There, is a large market overseas for the softwoods of this countrv" he continued, "and we can *■ ? learn much from Sweden, where the people nurse their rivers like we nurse our highways. Around Gisborne and in the Coast district, there is an abundance of labour within easy reach as Maoris are very useful forestry workers."' In answer to a question Mr Su-1--iivan said t-hat a report by the Minister probably would be published shortly and as district members Mr Coleman and himself would then consider steps to be taken regarding re-afforestation in the Gisborne and Bay of Plenty districts.