Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 5th, 1920. WESTLAND WANTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST sth, 1920. WESTLAND WANTS.

TtiK local Progress League has made a good commencement by listings the wants of Westland, and setting them out for public information and support as the main aim and objective of the League in its efforts to assist in the promotion and development of the district. Westland wants but little, hut lias wanted that little long. There are urgent general requirements to promote the prosperity of the place, njid it is worth while recapitulating Westland wants:— Completion of the East and West Coast Railway.

Bridging rivers and streams of South Wesitla.ud to permit- of through traffic to AVa-iho Gorge.

Bridging Waiho river p.U.d opening dray road to Bruce Bay.

Extension of South Wystjapd railway Ross to Waitaha. Utilisation of Lake Kanieri—one ot (he finest scenic assets of the Dominion f)y ’ (a) Widening the plain road to the Lake.

(h) Circling the Lak.e with a- motor read.

(o) Branch road connection by Styx Saddle, ‘from the head of (he Lake to Kokatahi Valley road.

Drainage of Swamp Land. Erecting Landing stage at Bruce Bay. Reafforestation throughout Westland, the climate of which has proved the potent factor in producing the magnificent native forests.

Experimental farming, including pasture production on cleared teprpce timber country. Improvement of Port of Oknrito. Twice-weekly mail to Wailio Gorge. Research and prospecting operations regarding mineral resources, including: (a) Discovery of quartz reefs. (b) Probing for auriferous deep levels. (c) Tracing lost auriferous leads. (d) Boring for oil and coal. Hydro Electric Power Development for: (a) Industrial -Expansion. (b) Paper Manufacture. Branch railways. (a) Hokitika to Kokatahi Valley. (b) Support completion Reefton-West-port connection.

These fourteen heads supply a wellspread general programme, an f l its realisation will afford ample scope for the League’s operations. With the advent 1 of the Canterbury delegation the week after next a commencement pan he made in the endeavour to focus operations und setting out on an agitation which will need the backing of the whole community. The League needs membership and enthusiasm to carry through its self-imposed tasw. Folk in all parts of the district can endorse the demands for district advancement by joining the League, and showing hv their personal interest they are alive to the necessity for an active organisation to attempt bring about a material development in regard to various local and general requirements. A considerable, section of

the League’s programme refers to South Westland —a district wo hnvo t long considered to bo the sheet anchor / to the future of the West Coast. From 1 that quarter, therefore, should be a rush of membership. Other parts of the district which will feel the benefit of the ; reflected prosperity from the south , should be no less anxious to co-operate, • for the advancement of one portion of 1 the district, will have its reflex in other | parts. Here is one of those opportu- , nities it is too good to miss, and. the whole countryside should rush to membership. With several of the matters mentioned in the list given above, a good deal of definite spade work has been done already. In several instances {the authorities are lending a. favorable ear and there have been promises more or less favorable. Now is the time therefore, to seek to clinch the position by pressing for that definite and final action which will lead to the happy consummation desired. If in the past efforts have been too much diffused, ! now is tlie change to concentrate. The i more urgent and readily attainable pro- ! jects in the programme win bo taken up first, and pushed first. Other 'mat--1 ters while temporarily deferred, need not be forgotten, and should bo kept in the foreground as opportunity offers ns a, reminder of the genuine wants of the district which must be satisfied, before the Province of Westland (>nn play its full part in the scheme of Dominion progress and prosperity. The League Seems to be launched with a good foundation to work upon, and given encouragement by the practical help of the people at large, useful work is ahead of the organisation in the effort to give Westland permanence and prosperity in the immediate future.