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Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1920, Page 2

The return prepared by the Hon. Grimmond to impress the Minister of Public. Works as to the size and scope of Westland County, appeared to carry considerable weight with Hon. J. G. Contes when the Minister was here last week. Westland County is the longest in the Dominion. It has an area of 4,420 square miles. It length can best be guaged by the fact that on the same stretch of country on the East Coast

there are twenty, three County Councils, as against the one on the West Coast. The area of the Westland County is roughly one third of the many Counties on the East Coast, the botnl area of which is 12,695 square miles. Westland thus lias,a very large tract of country to care for compared with the

Counties on the Hast Coast which uv more compact and accessible in every way. Naturally too, Westland suffers for the want of population. The population in the West Coast County is but one-twentieth of that in the East Coast Counties and with a knowledge of Westland we are all aware that the major, portion of the population reside in the northern part. The bulk of the County is but sparcely populated—iwfact which hampers settlement in every way. In point of rateable value, also, the Westland County, is greatly handicapped compared with the richer local I odies across the ranges. The Westland capital value is about one eighty-third part of that of the East Coast. This comparison emphasises the struggle it ;s for the West Coasters to carry on compar ed- with possible- conditions oil the EastCoast. On the other side, the dilncul ties of settlement and access are not as acute as here, with the dense r orest and the innumerable treanis to cross. Besides the East Coast had in years gone -by the benefit of great expenditure under the Provincial government. Mr Griinmoud’s -comparison supplied at, a glance tlie difficulties of a single local body to struggle with the requirements of a great stretch of country like Westland. The map produced revealed the great tract of backblock country which is served only indifferently by roads, and it will take decades to see the railway pushed into the far south. A good ease was put before Mr Coates unread and bridge access, and this wj are persuaded will have fair treatment at the hands of the Minister.

Probably not for -a century, says the Sydney Herald, has the wheat position of the world been so precarious. Cables from well-informed private sources; which were published recently in Sydney, indicated a shortage of acreage in both the American and European crops; the condition of the crop was favourable in Europe, but the sowings in Canada, and the spring sowings withe United States were reported to oe backward. Argentina is also considering restriction of exports. Another message received in Sydney asked ior information concerning the prospects i f next harvest in Australia. The asking of the question so long before the harvest is due—six months—is an indication of the anxiety manifested abroad concerning, future supplies of the world. In these circumstances the statistical conditions in Australia should be carefully considered. That is what the Minister for Agriculture of the State, Mr Dunn, desires in his memorandum to the Australian Wheat Board. Latest* returns show that the wheat in Australia amounts to 52.000,000 bushels. 'No information has been . vouchsafed concerning the balance due to the United Kingdom on the purchase of 1,500,000 tons made last year; but it is estimated by competent authority that -,t least 20,000,000 bushels have still to lie delivered. That would leave stocks ,n Australia at the very outside amounting to ’32,000,000 bushels, not sufficient for a season’s consumption. We Jo not know what the season will be like Indications in this State are very unfavourable. All this has a special bearing on New Zealand, which year by year of late, has to draw on Australia for wheat supplies. The seriousness < f the outlook is of concern therefore to the Dominion, and the conservation of supplies and the husbanding of e- ■ sources require to be take in hand betimes if a serious shortage of a staple 1 supply is to be avoided. j