CANTERBURY DELEGATION

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1920, Page 4

CANTERBURY DELEGATION

YESTERDAY'S TOUlt.

The members of the Canterbury Delegation visiting Westland, accompanied by .Messrs IV. Jeffries (vice-Presidont) T. W. Bruce (County Chairman), J. j. Mclntosh, P. It. Stewart, and A. G. Pilkington (Hon. Secretary) of the local I’ogross League, left yesterday morning by motors for an inspection of the surrounding districts. The Arahura Valley was first visited the party going ns far as the dredge at Humphreys. Then a return was made through Illue Spur to Kaniori and on to Lake Knnieri which was reached shortly after noon. A dainty lunch was partaken and the Lake which was at its best drew the admiration of the visitors. At 1.30 p.m. tlio party left for Koitorangi, going as far as Hnrcourts, a return then being made to Kokatahi, where some of the settlers were met at the Public Hall. Addresses were made by Messrs Brue e (County Chairman), L. H. Morel, and J. Fleming, Messrs McAlpine, Marriner, Holland and Climie replying. A vote of thanks was subsequently passed on the motion of Mr Fleming. The Veturn journey was then made, Hokifka being reached shortly after 6 p.m. the visitors expressing the opinion that the day had been a, delightful one. MEETING IN TOWN HALT.. There was a representative gathering at the Town Hall last evening, upwards of one hundred being present to meet the members of the Canterbury Delegation. who are on a visit of inspection of the West Coast.

The visitors with Mr Wlid, (Chairman of the local branch of the Progress League), who presided, occupied the platform. Mr It. Wild in opening the meeting meeting said it was his pleasing duty to welcome their big brothers from 'Canter bury, and he trusted their visit would be enjoyable and instructive. The Westland Chamber of Commerce had realised the necessity of urging their wants. They bad wanted an improved mail ervice from Jacksons and had been prepared to pay half the cost of it, but !they found that their Canterbury friends when the necessity arose had instituted a motor service to carry the mails in their district and the Government had footed the whole bill. This made us over here less contented, and we felt that it was advisable for us to make barnacles of ourselves and attach ourselves to the Canterbury Progress League. The genltlemen present bad ‘come over here and we warmly appreciated the public spirit they have displayed and have been already to. gather something of the reason why they have been able to get their way in most matters. He extended a hearty and sincere welcome to the visitors.

Mr A. G. Pilkington said lie did not feel called on to say much regarding the formation of the League. It appeared quite evident that concerted action on behalf of Westland was desirable and necessary. To some extent he was able to appreciate its possibilities, and also the disabilities under which W r estland exists. After the visit of the organiser they had found the opportunity and necessity to join in a similar method of bringing 'their wants before the authorities. These visitors wore out in a pertinent manner to enquire into the wants of the district. He was out to do his best to further the best interests of the Progress League in this district. He impressed on those present the necessity of pushing the League on at every opportunity.

Mr H. M. Coulson, considered this ivas an important gathering. We in Westland had felt for some years that the West Coast was the cinderella ol the Dominion. The time is arriving when she shall be linked up with the City of the Plains by the iron band. They had with them as their visitors that evening, live active public men and that was what was required in this district to push the West Coast. If we desire to progress we must put some push into our agitation. They had formed a branch of the Canterbury Progress League, and he thought that Westland could not have done better than to have joined the Canterbury League. He had heard one of the visitors say the previous evening that Westland must progress, but bow much lay to a large extent with its public men. He expressed his pleasure at the visit of their guest and trusted that their stay in the district would prove thoroughly enjoyable. Mr John Ritchie extended a welcome to the visitors. There was never a time when help was more necessary for the West Coast. He trusted that their visit as far as Waiho would give them an insight into the district. The bridging of the Waiho river was one of the most important works of the south. There could not be any progress of the far south until this work was carried out. There was also the landing at Bruce Bay which he desired to bring under their attention.

Mr D. J. Evans endorsed the hearty welcofne to the visitors and said he would deal with one subject only. He referred to the Otira tunnel. Ever since that work was first mooted, Canterbury had taken a very important part. Personally he had been connected with the agitation since 1893, when the Westland Railway League was; formed and were successful in securing the support of the Canterbury people. Deference was made to the renewal of the. agitation in which Messrs Roper, Quan® and O’Halloran of Canterbury took such an important part. Those who passed through the. tunnel yesterday were convinced that matters were now progressing inside the tunnel as well as could he expected. In this connection a word of praise was due to the Hon J. G. Coates for the manner in which he had settled the recent dispute. One matter to which they should give their special attention was in connection with the elecrjification of the tunnel. Ho felt that the time table already arranged of two trains for goods and two for passengers each way was totally inadequate, for the great amount of traffic that would pass through. Ho felt they should agitate for tho necessary works t|o be put in hand to enable the whole work to be completed and pnt through in as speedy a manner as possible. He suggested in view of tho alleged shortage of Government engineers that the Government should apply to the Canadian Government for the loan of some of their en-

gineers in connection with the electrification of the tunnel and other large works in tlio Dominion. He would not refer to matters in South AYestland. Those they would see on their journey south' during the next few days and the necessity of them would be forced on their notice.

Mr T. W. Bruce (County Chairman) tsLid he could not do more than urge the completion of the Otira tunnel. They had the most pleasant recollections of the visit of the previous Canterbury delegation, especially of that old friend (Mr O’Halloran), who had unfortunately not lived to see the completion of the tunnel They realised that Canterbury had many wants as well as this district, and that they must not be paroclijial, but to seek to do their best for til© good of the two districts and the Dominion as a whole. His friend as he called him “the flower pot’’ was very serious in urging the carrying out of that Bruce Bay work. After the completion of the Otira tunnel, the next most important work was the bridging of the South Westland rivers. In joining the Progress League of Canterbury, Westland hoped that they would reap some advantage. It had been mentioned that Auckland had demanded that £‘2 should be spent on rail ways in the North Island for every £1 spent in the South Island. Various other matters were referred to at some length.

Mr Wm Jeffries (Vice 'Chairman of the Progress League) took the opportunity of extending a cordial welcome to the visitors. First and foremost our troubles on this Coast was our isolation, politically and geographically. We were isolated to an extent they, our visitors, would not be aware of until their journey of to-morrow. Referring to Otira tunnel he pointed out the great cost, and the amount of interest added, which had proved a bad proposition for the country from a business point ol view. During the past seven years a number of settlers from South Westland had left that district, owing to their isolation Now was the time we need the assistance of the Canterbury people Canterbury can take all our products, while we wanted Canterbury’s grain, and industrial output. Reference was made to the uoeesvty ol the bridging of the South Westland rivers. The power of the Canterbury district was shown, in a straight line across the island, there were 14 covin-, ties, as against Westland’s one, with. 13 members of Parliament as against, Westland’s solitary one. The mineral resources of Westland were referred to, it being mentioned that at 'Januib.tck there were estimated to be at least .00 million tons of lime. This was only one instance of what they had in this district, which would be of value to their East Coast friends. THE VISITORS. Mr W. R. McAlpine, (.Vice President of the Canterbury Progress Leagued said he wished to thank them on behalf of bis party for their very cordial welcome. This was his first visit to the district and he was quite satisfied they had one of the best districts in New Zealand. If the balance ol the tour was gong to be equal to .that of to-day, then he felt that they were in for a pretty good time. He said they had come through the tunnel yesterday and ho had seen the progress made, something like 30 chains in three months had been done. They were averaging about a chain a. week and there were only some forty chains to be done now. He had been told that the railway authorities were arranging to carry four goods trains and two passenger trains the League’s duty to find out what was actually being done in connection with the electrification of the tunnel. He liad noticed during his visit that day the number of schools in tlie district, all apparently well built. Mr Shannon, —Due to the Westland Education Board.

Mr McAlpine—Then it was to their credit that such was the case. He had also seen some of their trees that day, but was told to wait till next day. In Canterbury they desired to get the School of Forestry installed at Christchurch. A start waa being made but he had noticed that Auckland was doing their utmost to get it there. When Mr Climie got back one of his first dutiqs would he to arrange for a campaign to secure a School of Forestry. As far as agriculture here was concerned, he had come over here with the idea that they had no farming land. They had here some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand, and also splendid roads. Referring to the Can r •<erbury Progress League he said they were the only League in New Zealand that was formed on a financial basis. They had nothing to do with politicians except in keeping 'them in their place. Mr Jeffries—Or putting them out. Mr McAlpine—That may come later on. He could safely say that the League had never taken up an agitation that had not been carried to a successful completioh. He could assure them that any matter which they considered would be of advantage to the district and that it was necessary, would get the supporlljj of the League to the utmost of its power. Whatever they wanted they had to arrange what was the most important to them and get that done, and then do what was the next most important. They were prepared to help tlie Coast, hut they also wanted the support of the Coast. He again thanked them for the very hearty welcome extended. (Applause). Mr G. White, (Canterbury Industrial Association) apoolgised for the absence of tho President. He thanked them for their kind welcome. They had to deal with the Labour question or their would b e chaos. There was one thing they had to kill and that was the goslow policy. The man who invented that policy should lie forced to walk behind an old fashioned hearse for the rest of his days. (Laughter). This was his first visit to Hokitika and lie would remember his visit as long as lie lived. By their welcome 'they had run a thread of honey through his heart. (Applan*®). Mr H. J. Marriner said he had the honor along with Mr F. Jones of representing the Chamber of Commerce of Canterbury. Tho Chamber had always taken an active parlt in urging the carrying out of tho Otira tunnel. Some four or five years ago it had been felt that a speeding up of tho work was necessary and 'they had made an effort, with the assistance of tlie Coast people,'which he was glad to know had resulted in the speeding up of the completion of the tunnel. One of the greatest difficulties they had met with

had been the opposition of the Auckland people. Last year the vote for railway expenditure in the South Island was £143,000 and in the North Island £480,000. And now the North Island was ovi't to get even more. There were a number of lineß all over the Dominion that were unfinished and ndt earning at all. His League was of opinion that some of the unfinshed lines should be finished 3 or 4 at a time, instead of carrying out work- on 30 or 40 alt a time. He instanced the cost of the Otira tunnel as a result of the delay in lt)io completion of that work. The question of the expenditure ol Public money is a most important one for the future. It was a question 'that they were endeavouring to solve in Canterbury. In the future let us watch very carefully and see t.lin't: we put into Parliament men who were prepared to see that the public money is used in a proper manner. Mr K. E. Jones (Canterbury Chamber of Commerce) supported the previous speakers as to ithe enjoyment of their visit. It was going to he an enjoyable holiday and also a profitable visit for both Canterbury and the West Coast. There was one malttor of great interest and that was the manufacture of newspaper. He understood that they had unlimited belts of timber that was suitable for wood pulp. New Zealand used ton to fifteen thousand tons of news paper P©r year. One small mill as in use in Canada would put out 50 'tons ol paper daily, sufficient for New Zealand. It was costing New Zealand about half a million a year at the present time. Experts were unanimous 'that there was a splendid opportunity for paper making on the West Coast. It was necessary to have water and electrical energy. This was an industry that they had 'lying a’t tlieir It would cost half a million to instai first class mill. He urged them to keep 'this question steadily in view. He had had a look at their agricuß ral land, but what he had seen he f< "ml they were not working the land. He had seen that day a single furrow being used but (that was a thing of the past. After referring further to the subject he concluded by thanking them again for the great warin'tb of their walcom*.

M r H. Holland, (ex Mayor of Christreiterated the delight of previous speakers at the welcome given. He briefly corrected a couple of remarks of previous speakers, in connedtion with League actions. As u member of tin* Canterbury Progress League he was delighted to extend a welcome to the Westland branch of the league. He pointed out the power of the combination, dealing at some length with the results of past efforts. During the present visit he had seen that the possibilities of Westland, as he bad never seen them before, were tremendous. He referred to the action of the League m urging on tlio carrying out of large public works in Christchurch In connection with the West Coast hydro-elec-tric power available he gave an instance of what it meant to 'the house' wife. At Christchurch for 8 hours power of 1 unit, the cost was lid. This was sufficient 'to do the washing in his homo for a month, and did away with all labour, the power doing the work. Lyttelton Harbour Board was out to capture your 'trade, and had recently passed a bill thorugli Parliament to enable a loan to be raised to ensure further improvements to the harbour there He felt sure that the present visit would prove ol material advantage to both Westland and Canterbury. II they could bo of any assistance to ge fc Westland her dues, the present visit would be of some use. He again thanked them for their warm welcome. (Applause) . MOTIONS CARRIED.

The Chairman said that following up the excellent suggestion made by Mr Evans, he would move: “That in view of the magnitude, urgency and importance of the work 'it electrification of the Otira Tunnel, tin Minister he urged to get the Govern nient to endeavour to arrange with the Imperial or Canadian Government for the loan of their most eminent engineers thereby hastening the completion of tlie work ensuring its success, and also giving New Zealand engineers an opportunity of getting the most modem methods.” Seconded by Mr 'White. Mr McAlpine supported. He understood that one of the greatest difficulties of New Zealand was to get sufficient engineers, the present scale being insufficient to induce engineers to continue in the service. The motion was then agreed to. Mr Evans then moved—“ That this public meeting urge tlie appointment of a Chair of Forestry at Canterbury College.” Seconded by Mr Bruce and carried. Mr Jeffries moved a hearty vote of thanks to the delegation who had visited them that day. Mr ’l'. W. Duff seconded the motion expressing the pleasure it had been to listen to the speeches of the visitors and assuring them that their visit was appreciated.

The motion was parried by acclamation, Mr Holland briefly acknowledging. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated a very successful meeting at 10.30 p.m.