The Grey River Argus MONDAY, September 20, 1937. BULLER AND INANGAHUA.

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1937, Page 4

The Grey River Argus MONDAY, September 20, 1937. BULLER AND INANGAHUA.

Expectations that pastoral, industrial and trading advancement on the West Coast will follow the improvements now progressing in the means of transport, are well founded. This applies no less to the northern than to the southern districts. Last week there was a meeting at Reefton of representatives of the local bodies and business interests of Buller and Inangahua, prompted by the prospect that is opened up with the completion of the Buller Gorge Railway and the Lewis Pass Road. Some there might be who would be disposed to take a narrow or envious view, calculating to what extent, for instance, other parts of the West Coast might expect competition when the localities mentioned obInin haff Pi* fl'siffip Pl lif IPS. >111(1 cl

more speedy and adequate outlet and inlet for their products and imports. It would, however, be very shortsighted for any locality to ignore the natural community of interest which the increased facilities will only strengthen, because the Reefton gathering demonstrates that such an association has always been recognised. It has been one of the reasons why the new road and railway have for a period of many years been 'consistently advocated. People who have so. identified themselves with a district as to stake their own fortunes upon its development have no more than their due reward when a new milestone in pioneering. is passed. At the meeting mentioned, several constructive suggestions were advanced, such as those of sealing the Buller Gorge highway; the utilisation of the port of Westport in a larger measure to serve the hinterland as far as Reefton both for imports and exports, including both timber and coal; the use of more efficient methods in clearing land; the institution of a Progress League in Inangahua; the development of scenic and other resorts, including the Maruia Mineral Springs; and the generation of the spirit and practice of active co-operation between the two districts for mutual betterment. The railway and road should bring those localities into closer reach of the Addington Market, and it might not be out of place to suggest that the raising of beef cattle in larger numbers is worthy of consideration, also that of a hardy constitutioned breed of sheep such

as the Romney, for dual purposes. A wider practice of soil treatment on scientific. lines, with the use of better classes of breeding animals, would certainly bring payable results. Some West Coast advantages are apt to be forgotten, such as the absence of droughts. There is evident scope for probably much greater enterprise in the raising of sheep and pigs, for which the transport facilities, not forgetting gond road services, should offer inducement. The opinion was expressed that the districts in question, if they are wide awake to their opportunities, may 'obtain the sealing of the whole of their main highway's, and it is therefore reasonable to expect that those roads meantime shall be

widened sufficiently to ensure the greatest benefit from the presentday roading policy. As far as the towns are concerned, their i welfare must be determined very largely by the fate ol surrounding districts, and whatever is calculated to give the best returns from staple, industries should have the advocacy of business, no less than industrial ami pastoral interests. There is a deal ol waste on the. West. Coast, not merely the long neglect to exploit the land properly, but in materials and by-products. Stock raising should now obtain an impetus both in Buller and Inangahua, while there should be a wider timber market, and possibly a better coal market. Tourist traffic will certainly be augmented, and efforts, should be made to ensure, that visitors shall not merely rush

through, but shall have brought under notice in time such resorts as are worthy of their attention. As regards trading, there are bound to be readjustments, and these may be hastened by the fact that port charges here are comparatively so Nevertheless, the promotion of prosperity by improved access m any one part of the West Coast is not in the long run going to be any disadvantage for any other part. History in the case of the Midland Railway has gone to prove this sooner or later in even locality. This conviction underlies the policy of the Government in opening up the West Coast, and it is safe to say that the wisdom of its progressive steps will be the still more widely recognised in the very near future.