Canterbury Complaint of South Island Communications Lack

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 7

Canterbury Complaint of South Island Communications Lack

DUNEDIN, April 12. The opinion that the South Islam had been wilfully neglected in tnt expenditure of public funds was expressed at this morning’s conference of South Island Members of Parliament, South Island Publicity Association by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland. It was inescapable and inevitable that there should have been war-time concentration in the North Island he said. This had been necessary because of the geographical position of tne North Island. There had been large United States bases in the Norji Island during the war, which was quite proper. Shipping had also been concentrated at northern ports which was also quite proper, but he for his part, while agreeing to this during the war, was not prepared t-j submit to it permanently. “The greatest need of the South Island is improved communications,” said Mr Holland; “The population is growing and the country is.prosperous, but we cannot submit any longer to the inadequate services between the islands. We must demand adequate services for the transport of merchandise. The South Island had mucn that the North Island could not offer added Mr Holland. “We must protest at the idea of operating our power resources for the industries of the North. The correct thing would be to bring the industries down to where the power resources are,” he said. Dissatisfaction with what he described as the “injustices”. done to the South Island was expressed by Mr E. H. Andrews, Mayor of Christchurch, and president of the South Island Local Bodies Association, when he opened the conference of South Island Members of Parliament with executives of the South Island Local Bodies' Association and the South Island Publicity Association in Dunedin to-day. “People come to me continually saying. “Can’t we start some scheme of ’autonomy for the South Island"” he said. “That is absurd. I know. It would be most unwise, but there is no reason why the South Islam: should not be developed. We know there are difficulties about labour and materials, but work is going on in the North Island.” Mr Andrews said that a number 01 big works would affect the future of the whole of the South Island. For example, an overseas airport was required. . “It is a great injustice that people from the South have to go all the way to Auckland to catch a plane tor Australia,” he said. . “There is dissatisfaction rignt through the South Island, Mr Andrews concluded. “We want cooperation."