Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 2nd,, 1920. A YEAR OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY,

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 2nd,, 1920. A YEAR OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY,

The year which has opened should fie a. year of great opportunity for New Zealand. With peace about to be fin!ajlv ratified, and our political issues' settled at the polls for three years, the parties ma V: gef together and set about the task of reconstruction in all earnestness. 'Pile Premier lias a clear field ahead of hjm to make good his e/ectiop promises, and doubtless the Opposition and the press in general will urge .the Government. to take up ijbs task and yqt with all earnest ness fgr fh.c fie^jtejr.inept of our social and industrial conditions. As was remarked ftp other day, the people on their part must perforin their share. It would be futile to aspect everything from the Government, and

nothing from ourselves. The people and Government must “get together in all earnestness and sincerity if there is to h,e fair p/ay in shouldering the burden of reconstruct ioj!, Tlic industrialist must do bis part conscientiously, for it is to the sterling worth (Of /a/jor Td) at cjur conn try must look to its effective regeneration. Labour moves in all classes for each and has his up* portioned part to play. Whether producer or manufacturer, servant or . salesman, all must do their bit, and Work with all thejr might- Pfteds must supplant words, -with worker as ,with Minister, and the outcome will be a wonderful advance, and a flow of prosperity greater than ever. Here in our own district there is nothing more calculated to give the place n greater fillip than the linking up of the East and ! West Coast railway. What can be one I this year to hasjtew jtjie completion of : the work? As matters are drifting now | three or perhaps four years will pass by, and pven then the work might not be consummated. Surely it will be a reflection on our citizens/)ip if within two yours the work is not finished | Now is the time for fl> specie/ agitation to be pressed, 'file people of the East

and West Coast Coasts should be linked together in a common desire to see the great national work so speeded up as to measure its completion by months rather than years. A few weeks ago, when in Christchurch Mr Massey spoke in favor of finishing the line quickly. Tie has the power behind him to fulfil that promise to the letter. Should the Prime Minister not be asked to inspect the work personally and meet the peoples concerned, at both ends of the tunnel to discuss the situation ? It would be well worth while for the people on either side of the ranges to take a day off and load up as many special trains ns the Pail way Department will provide as an earnest of the public desire to aee the work finished, the Canterbury people to discuss the matter with Mr Massey pjb (Arthur’s Pass and the Westland people discuss the subject with the Prime Minister at (Qtira Gorge. By means of a great, public demonstration there would be a clear indication of tho popular feeling on the matter, and by passing through the tunnel, and meeting the engineers and the men, grasping the working conditions and realising what was still to be done, Mr Massey would have the one opportunity of understanding exactly what was required. It would bo for

bim UP determine with the aid of the official advice he would have at hi s elbow, what effort could be made to have the line in running order for the summer of 1921. If a date were fixed as a particular goal, and the people East and West were as earnest as they should be about this great arterial work, this year of great opportunity should see them push the agitation to a definite stage whereat it could be said the line will be open for traffic:. People of the East and West Coast s be up and doing, and serving your own ends you will do the Dominion the greatest service also!