Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1920. WINNING THROUGH.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1920. WINNING THROUGH.

When speaking at tho Borough Council meeting last Friday night, Councillor Blank remarked very truly, if somewhat inelegantly, that “those who howl the loudest get tho most.’’ In other words, if you do not ask you shall not receive. There are of course different ways of asking. Tho “howling” method is the noisy way, and it does not take the suppliant all the way, because noise is more distressing than appealing, but a well organised appeal backed by representative support—which means influential support,—make its impress, and there is some hope of attaining the objective, not from the force used, but from the conviction rnadp by the reasonableness and logic of the appeal, 4 well organised appeal of this nature is possible froip wellorganised body such as ;i Progress League, To begin with, such a Leagup is composed of those who have a reasonable knowledge of what they want and how to set about it, and therein lies the value of well directed organisations

Just now we have amongst us representatives of the Canterbury Progress League, who, realising the nature of affinity there is between the peoples on the .two sides of the ranges for business and intercourse generally, have come to help up. For long years Westland has complained of its isolation and neglect in the sense that being out. of .the way of the regular traffic going up down the Dominion, the district was missed and overlooked in such a way that it lacked the helping hand to assist it towards the goal of progress which other centres are aiming for. Well the barrier of neglect is breaking down. There is a hole through the hill, and those who have taken a peep at Westland even from afar, have realised that there is still a large tract of country in New Zealand which >s not being fostered to its full extent and is capable of reproductive development which will give a general fillip to trade and industry. So the good folk are hero to help us and to-night at a public meeting at the Town Hall are to be told something of Westland’s Wonts and the special public works, which 1 accomplished, will tend to lift the dis

trict ahead and make it a more and more, important part of the Dominion. Tonight, therefore, affords the opportunity of confiding to our neighbors something of our hopes and ambitions so that we my grow in stature, and the district become a more useful part of New Zealand. The resources of Westland are such that they are capable of marked development, and thereby will create greater prosperity in the larger volume of trade and supplies which

they are equal to affording. We know ourselves, but it is well that the knowledge should go abroad, and that we shoufd have outside friends and patrons to interest themselves in the fortunes of Westland. A rare chance to spread

the knowledge and secure the personal interest in ourselves now presents itself, apd it. is for the people of the district at large to ayail themselves to the fullest of the occasion. A good organisation now established oft (he Coast to work in conjunction with the Canterbury Progress League would have an influential sway with regard to essential district requirements to advance the district as a whole. Nothing material in the way of public works development is likely to come our way without asking and asking in a reasonable way with a good hacking .behind ' us, we are more likely than ever to win through. Now is the time j for a special effort. 1

Our parliamentary correspondent in one of his recent letters offered some remarks on the parties in Parliament, indicating that H.M. Opposition in . particular was almost rudderless, while the captain of the Government ship dominated tho position in a personal rather than a policy sense. When Parliament assembled there was some talk of a session of six months’ duration. That does not seem possible, for there is not the talking power m the House to keep business going over that period. Indeed the business itself is not likely to lie forthcoming. The House is now getting through the Estimates expediently, the Government being perfectly safe with its docile majority behind it, even if there be a leaven of independence among some of the members. Mr Massey has had some valued experience in dealing with so-called independents and he may be left safely to deal with any apparent emergency of this kind. With tho Civil Service Estimates disposed of, there remnins the taxation for the year which is to be sanctioned—no doubt largely as a matter of form—through a Finance Committee. Then will c omo the Public Works Estimates, and from that moment members will he restive to wind up tho session. In between there will be various bills to deal with, hut the debates are largely routine, and stone walls do not appear to be very probable. The session should he well towards its close in another six or eight weeks at the most, and there will be some relief from this, as for economy reasons the session might ho well curtained rather than unduly extended. The Government has ai very firm seat, and rules the position absolutely. As much or ns little in tho way of legislation as tho Government cares to offer, the House and tho country will have to accept. There is not much sign of any great reforms, the line of least resistance is to be pursued as heretofore, and tho people must be grateful for what they receive. We do not think they can be very hopeful for the next session of Parliament, and it will perhaps not be till another general election is looming that the political atmosphere will bo again charged with all those light as air promises, which a favorable general election seems to dissipate so quickly directly after.

While the people of ;i highly mineralised bit of country such as Westland are looking in vain for the Mines Department to attempt something in a comprehensive way for the promotion and development of gold mining, it remains for outside capital to be brought into the district and apply the methods of other countries in the more cconor mical winning of gold. The Mines Department is special organisation—we take it for of mining. Last year the Department cost the country £36,637, and this yearvthe vote in the Consolidated Estimates to run the Department is £-41,854. There is a staff of over fifty people employed in the Department. Now and again Westland has a glimpse of one or more members of tlie Department motoring along the high roads. It must some years now since any member of the official staff has boon in the back country where the matrix might be looked for with some hope of success. The point seems to be, what is the relation of the Mines Department to the mining industry as applied to localities where tho minerals are in situ? The Department Is comfortably quartered far removed from the scene where active development operations should be in progress. Also, what, really is the scope and functions of the Mines Department? It appears to be only official and purely administrative. There is nothing constructive in the way of a policy to build up the gold mining industry. Tho Mines State-ment-—which must be a costly publication to print year by year— makes the barest reference to gold mining and offers np suggestions to enhance the prestige of the industry. This is a matter of the widest interest to the people of New Zealand. The colony owed its early growth • and first real establishment to the gold yield, and there is thus a heavy national debt still repayable in the furtherance of tho industy to ensure its expansion and renewed attraction of money and population of the country. It is not unreasonable to demand that the powers that he shall formulate a mining policy and utilise the machinery already existing in .the Mines Department to further the .development which in a country so highly mineralised as this; is capable of producing.