CANNABIS COULD REVITALISE MATAURA MILL

For many years Jim Anderton has claimed to represent the average New
Zealander and their interests.

Yet now that he is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic
Development he seems to have forgotten this. It appears that he can't wait
to jump into bed with a multi-national company to appease their consciences
over the loss of 155 jobs and $7 million to a small, local economy.

Even Rod Donald's suggestion that the Government buy New Zealand products
is dismissed summarily as simplistic by the people's champion, despite
statistics showing that every $1 million of imports cost 16 jobs, $118,000
in lost taxes and $159,000 in welfare payments.

But there is an even simpler solution to the high pulp costs and low
returns which caused the Mataura paper mill's closure: legalise the use of
the world's most useful plant, cannabis.

This would allow local farmers to make some extra money growing cannabis
for the mill. Cannabis can be grown on fallow land, it improves soil
structure, keeps weeds down and is nearly free of pests and diseases.

The "boutique" mill would then have a cheap source of pulp and because
there is currently a high demand for the high-quality hemp paper there
should be no problem finding a market.

Development of the technology needed would be a good thing for Mr Anderton
and Carter Holt Harvey to look at and invest in. A crop this spring could
see the mill operating again in just a few years.

Mr Anderton justifies his anti-legalisation position on the increasing use
of cannabis by our youth, but while joblessness, poverty, debt and
uncertainty affect more and more parents, and with the same problems to
look forward to as adults themselves, our youth will continue to use
alcohol and drugs for relief from such harsh realities.

Prohibition and globalisation seem to only benefit the US and big business.

The only solution to our real problems is to create the job machine by
legalising the use of the people's plant, cannabis.

Jason Baker-Sherman, Dalmore