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Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1920, Page 2

Tiiehb is n stereotyped tone about tlio reply published to-day, from the Minister of Lands to the- request of the Olwrjtw Harfcor League for an endowment pi 20,000 acres as a- means to add to the financial resource? available to assist with harbor hnprQyeme.uf njb Oka rite where a considerable timber j cntling development and export trade is to take place within the next decade. The Moil. Minister in grandiloquent phrase says that “most of the Crown hands in the vicinity of Okarito cqm-

■ prises part of the National Endowment. I There is, however, no power to set aside j 20,000 acres of this land as a Harbor Hoard endowment.” The innocent reader would consider from this that the land is tnpu, and beyond the reach ; of .spoliation. Would that it were so, I considering the fundamental principle ' on which the Liberals fought for and established the National endowment 1 j lands are some heritage for the people, ' 1 Having some remnant of the Crown j lands from the freeholders’ grasp. But 1 the Minister of Lands must think the 1 : people here have very short memories, ' if in connection with his dictum as to the sacredness of the National Endowment territory, they do not recall that only last session under the State Forests Act. the Crown took authority j to seize National Endowment land for State forests and at the same tiro V ,

iiberately overrode previous legislation and “collared” half the revenue for the State Forestry Dpartment! Here is the Government riding right through former acts of Parliament in regard to a great principle, yet stumbling at

a suggestion to take a modest 20,000 acres to assist in a backblock development of the first importance to an isolated district. Truly there is a lot of make believe and camouflage about these Government Departments.

The report that is current that the Kanieri Power Ltd. water rights at Lake Kanieri are passing into the hands of the large syndicate about to operate on Rimu Flat suggests an important development in regard to hydro-electric-ity in this district. The company will be easily, the largest user of electric, power in this neighborhood for some time. Something like 500 horse power will be required for each “dreadnought” dredge which is to be installed, a demand which will absorb something like a third of the power to be developed at Lake Kanieri for the minimum cost undbr present ednditionsi. This enterprise will therefore ensure a very important expansion of the works, and will lead to a very valuable plant being installed in this locality. Doubtless the enterprise will see to it that additional power is available for commercial use. The contracts entered into already for street lighting and : n connection with one or more public institutions will continue, and the reticulation which will serve for that purpose, will also supply private requirements along the route. In addition industrial concerns could be supplied also, and more than one consumer is suggested already in tbo matter of extraordinary supply, for industrial purposes. A new era is dawning, and this brightening prospect in conjunction with other developments to take place affecting this district within the next couple of years, suggests that the outlook for successful progressive advancement of the town and district has not appeared more promisingly hopeful before, hi point- of fact the district is on the eve of a very important ‘forward movement.