SOUTH ISLAND’S CLAIMS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24895, 7 June 1946, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND’S CLAIMS

Work of Local Bodies’ Association

MAYOR REPLIES TO MR MCCOMBS

Strong exception was taken yesterday by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews), as president of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, to the reported remarks of. Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P., on the functions of the association.

“Surely Mr McCombs has spoken out of his turn,” said Mr Andrews. ‘"Hie South Island Local Bodies’ Association is a South Island body, and its function is largely to approach the Government about matters affecting the South Island as a whole—important matters such as industries, and matters of South Island interest which the Government controls. The Government, as Mr McCombs must know, has the final say in most matters now-a-days." Mr Andrews pointed out that local body rates were purely for expenditure in the* territories of those local bodies, and could not be spent on projects in another part of the South Island. While each local body attended to matter/; in its own locality, the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, which had no rating powers, must perforce make its recommendations to the Government departments concerned. “The trouble is that most of the South Island members of Parliament, as soon as they get to Wellington, apparently become Infected with a North Island complex or fixation,” said Mr Andrews. * F If they had consistently represented the South Island and watched the South Island’s interests, there would have been no need for the formation of the association. “Powerful Body Necessary” “But it was necessary. It was necessary to have a powerful body to represent all the local bodies of the South Island, to push the island’s interests, and to support its claims. It was necessary to do something to cheek the tendency to regard the South Island as a mere appendage to the North Island, and to do something to check the drift of the population to the north. “The South Island has immense possibilities in its potential electric supply, its present unused lands Which can be made highly productive by irrigation, and its transport. It is outstanding in its tourist attractions. It has cheaper land, an abundance of water, and enormous resources for both primary and secondary industries.” Mr Andrews added that he had no hesitation in saying that the association had had considerable encouragement from Ministers of the Crown. He appreciated especially the help and consideration given by the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Semple, whose department must assume a great deal of responsibility for the future development of the South Island.