Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star FRIDAS. JAN. 19, 1917 A GROWL FROM THE SOUTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star FRIDAS. JAN. 19, 1917 A GROWL FROM THE SOUTH.

Thb south folk are wont to take matters very much as they are. Complaints from that quarter are not numerous, but .when they are voiced there is usually reason enough for the protests. The complaint made at a resent meeting of the Bruce Bay Improvement Committee, particulars of which appear in this issue, seems to be of a very genuine character, It arises out of the need for a landing at Brace Bay. Brace Bay is an open roadstead, well sheltered from the southerlies, bnt open to the noc’-westers. All cargo for the settlers domiciled from the Mabitahi to Cook’s River has to landed in small boats on the open beach. It can be well understood that favorable conditions for this sea-ser-

vice are often wanting. Risks are frequently taken, aud the invariable experience is to find cargo more or less damaged from spray in the difficult task of landing on the beaoh, or of shipping seawards. Some half dozen years ago the Government realised the need for an improvement in the landing service, and it was decided to construct a landing stage on Mower Pot Rock behind whioh a fair amount of shelter from even nor’-weaters could be secured. From the main beaoh along the bluff to this landing, a road would be necessary, and for the combining vyork of landing and road Parliament appropriated £I,OOO, Long before the war, engineers devised a scheme for the work which was found conld be carried out praetioably. Bnt there was delay about the details, including the fact that the coat was estimated ac £3OO above the vote. Procrastination was the order of the day, and finally the war happened aloDg, and the authorities seized this untoward event as an excuse to shut down completely on the expenditure of the vote. It is in these circumstances that the settlors have renewed the agitation for the work. They realise that while the war is given as an excuse for shutting down on public works in Westland, other districts are not so treated. Whether it be that such districts are more favored because they have representatives of “the right color,” while Westland has no representative at all, is nut clear, bnt it is significant that on the Nelson end of this Coast, and on the East Coast of this Island, as well as in numerous parts of the Dominion, including areas represented by Hon Ministers, large public works are not being delayed by the war or any other cause. Bridges and the like public works are going up, and the way of the tourist and the motorist is being made very easy. But in Westland the settler, and particularly the back block settler, is not receiving the least consideration. If this kissing is not goiDg by favor it would be interesting to know why so many other districts are raoeiving lavish attention, while Wesiland is bsirg ignored with an effect: which would seem to be star: cl. It is not so long ago that Westland, in the absence of its Member asked for a visit from a Minister to look into the

requirements of the district. This was nothing less than Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward promised would bo done. But the Government, in the absence of the lealers, ignore the district and its wants, and continued injury continues to be done, The Bruce Bay work 19 of the greatest importance to the people of the far south. There the community are isolated, and it is imperative that the means of communication should be improved. A landing service would be a great boon, and be of great value to the whole district. To delay the work longer is to penalise the people unduly. Their claims for recognition are beyond dispute. Equitably they should have prompt attention, for before the war, Parliament sanctioned the work. That it was not carried out then is due to the remissness of

the Department or its officers, and it is quite unfair that the settlers should continne to be penalised because of the departmental neglect at a period when the funds were ample. In any case if the Government were fair in the matter the funds should be there now, because the sum is not sufficiently large to npset the Dominion's financial position. If the work were dealt with in its order of preference, the money is there to do it, and to put up the paltry excuses now being made is merely to emphasise what we have said previously, namely, that the district is being treated differently from the more favored parts of New Zealand. Thiß is distinctly unfair, and is discreditable to all concerned.