POOR OLD HOKITIKA?

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1920, Page 2

POOR OLD HOKITIKA?

Jn the Grey ‘'Star” last night was the following vitriolic outburst anenb- the capital of Westland : Surely the opening .1 the Returned Soldiers’ Club rooms in Greymouth will give His iloyal Highness a better opportunity of carrying out his wishes than in attending the ball in bis honour at Hokitika, it is hard to understand the attitude of those responsible for the arrangement of‘the Prince’s tour. It seems eieur that the Ministers must be obtaining their information regarding the respective importance of Hokitika and Greymouth from guide books of very ancient date. In the 70’s Hokitika no doubt, was the most important town on the Coast. It decidedly is not so to-day. It is a decayed and still decaying town, and apart from its historical association is not worthy of the time thaj? the authorities compelling His iloyal Highness to spend there. When the amended tour of the Coast was drawn up an extra half-hour- was given to Greymouth. That half-hour has'recently been taken away and given to Hokitika. It might well have been spent here b.v the Prince opening the Soldiers’ itooms. It is unfair to Greymouth, for it is giving the Prince and his retinue a wrong idea of the geographical importance of the two towns.

This rodomontade for the glorification of the neighbouring town appeared

in the “leading” column of our contemporary which suggests, of course, that the Editor of the journal was responsible for the unfavourable reference which seems to contain the pent up feel-ings-of envy, hatred and all uncharitable ness to Hokitika. It seems a pity that a newspaper which prides itself from time to time on its loyalty and above all its Imperialistic leanings, should go so far in the effiort to stir up strife and dissension regarding tile Royal visit. We are persuaded that tlie attitude of the Gre.vmouth evening paper is not the attitude of the GreymOuth public on the question, and so will leave the matter discreetly at that.