Mr Gerard To Look At Coast Problems

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 12

Mr Gerard To Look At Coast Problems

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 12.

The Minister of Lands and Forests (Mr Gerard) will spend most of next week on the West Coast studying the special problems of the area

As Minister of Marine he will pay particular attention to the requirements of the Westport and Greymouth Harbour Boards. Mr Gerard will be accompanied by his secretary (Mr G. B. Nelson).

On Tuesday at Hokitika. Mr Gerard will meet representatives of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Federation, which has some proposals for a packaged timber industry to the United States. These proposals run counter to the suggestions of American experts who have been surveying the West Coast situation recently. It is understood that the West Coast sawmillers will ask for direct access to State forests, as part of their plan. The sawmillers have always worked private bush, and there is some doubt as to

what will happen when available economic stands of timber run out. Unfortunately for their plans there is a rule that no private industry should have access to State forests and that all timber from such forests should be available for sale to the highest tender. A similar problem arose in Canterbury last year in connexion with the establishment of a pulp and paper industry. The Labour Government was then unable to promise any rights over State forests to a private concern. It is understood that the West Coast sawmillers are not likely to fare any better than this. Mr Gerard will also see the Harbour Advisory Committee of Westport concerning the development scheme for the harbour sponsored by the former Deoutv Prime Minister (Mr C. F. Skinner) and costing £600.000. About £200.000 of this has been devoted to preliminary investigations.