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Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1919, Page 2

West Coasters should be very proud of the compliments passed by the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald on West Coast prospects. Mr MacDonald when returning to Wellington, was waylaid by the interviewer, and to sum up Ins remarks one sentence might be quoted! “There v r ns no question that those people depreciating tho West Coast would be astounded at the immense possibilities of the district.” Mr' MacDonald said very much the same when here, but abroad, before a larger audience, his opinions and comments will Pave a wider and more influential leaning. The Minister came here from the drought-striek. on north whore stock was having a very bad time. Sheep were being sold in the Hawkes Bay district for half a crown a head bcoauso of tho lock of food. Hero we have an evergreen region, and tho condition of the stock today, on the threshold of mid-winter, is very prime. Tho prospects of the Const in pastoral pursuits are very groat. 'Hie Coast should eclipse the record of tho Taranaki district, once tho people settle down genuinely to stock-raising and dairying with the advantage of thoroughbred stock and tillage for tho growth of special feed. It is surprising what is being done already with the rough feeding and tho little attempt at culling or mating stock fnr breeding purposes. Really, we are quite on the fringe of pastoral development, and as closer settlement comes to pass, and the working of tho lands becomes a regular seasonable habit, the industrial advancement in respect to pastoral and damning pursuits will ho phonjomonal. Yes, Mr MacDonald reads the signs aright, and the Coast has a prospering time ahead of it.

T.v liis interview at Christchurch, the Minister of Mines was equally sound in his viows regarding the advocacy of

j the completion of the Otira tunnel. He ] lias a clear vision of the possibilities ‘of the line, when through communica- . tion is possible. For instance what 1 a saving it would be at the moment, : if the hungry flocks of the East Coast 1 could he readily' railed across to the | West Coast pastures. What a tremen. j dous saving there would be to the ■ country, present and prospective. Mr MacDonald takes a reasonable view, also

of the labour problem in regard to the line, and is impressed with the desirability of utilising the Tunnelling Corps on the great national work. Mr MacDonald has no qualms of fears about the non-paying side of the line, to come from this side of the range, and the revenue is to come from this side of the range, and not necessarily from the East, for he describes the Lvetrdant Coast, and Specially South Westland, as a veritable paradise. There is every call for the prompt completion of the line. Nothing need he more convincing for the Minister of Public Works and his colleagues, than the statements of (Mr MacDonald. The Minister is an agriculturalist himself, he knows what he is talking about, and as a practical man of the Government, surely his opinion and suggestion is worthv of the fullest credence. It re-

mains to he seen what weight so influential a member of the National Govern-

j input will carry with his colleagues. If the Ministry is out for efficiency and economy, they must needs speed up and, finish the tunnel which will give a more efficient and economical railway service to the Dominion from the moment it is in operation. ,