Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPT. 2nd, 1920. FAUX PAS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPT. 2nd, 1920. FAUX PAS.

Judging by the remarks of one member of the Canterbury delegation at Inangaliua, all the gentlemen did not profit as thoy might by whalt they saw of the actual requirements of the districts through which they passed. For instance Mr H., J. Marriner, when speaking at lteefton, said that what had struck him most during his present visit to the Coast was that the people p - ere rply-ijug top. much on the Government and not enough upon themselves. Unfortunately in thp past tb e Coast had money and other tilings showered up,on it. Now times were changed) ajid if the people wished to succeed they must make the most of their own efforts. Then Mr Marriner went on to complain of the unfair treatment of the South Island in public works expenditure as a result of the political “pull” in the North Island. The inconsistency herein in which he was looking to Government on behalf of Canterbury in particular, did »pt strike him. But it was rather upon his reference to the alleged lavish expenditure of fu/pls on the Coast that we wish to refer. That is a very polite fiction, Mr Marriner retailed, about money “and other things” (whatever they were) being showered on the Coast. We should have thought that if Mr Marriner had gone about the district with his eyes open he would JmyP ji.u'o many urgent eases which indicated

very arid wastes waiting for tjie needful showers. So'far its the jaunt in Westland was concerned, Mr Marriner, wo should have thought, would hardly have seen evidences of the shower ho refers to, seeing that there were so many urgent matters still to be attended to, even to give the people decent access about the country by roads, Air Marriner is an authority on railways, we believe, and lie will have knowledge that the railway in Westland is less than 40 miles in length and cost a little over £300,000. In Canterbury proper there are some 455 miles of railway which cost upwards of three millions. It must have rained some in Canterbury, while we here had but a dribble of public money for railways. Then consider the roads and bridges, the Can terburians possess. From one end or the province to the other, and all side roads, are kept in superlative order, and it is the boast of motorists that bridges span every stleam likely to offer dis comfort to luxurious traffic. Compare those conditions with Westland. Does Mr Marriner remember all the streams requiring bridges in South 'Westlan alone, to make the passage of the motorist free from care and anxiety? Mr Marriner is drawing on an old and exploded fable when he talks of money being showered on the Coast. Let him think back to the days of the old Conservatives when so far as the Coast was concerned, everything was “kept steadily in view.” Since then the success- ,

ors of the Conservatives have been content to deal out doles. They were not able to regard the position as one calling for statesmanship to develop the national estate. The pressing need for rectifying the position was the occasion for the Canterbury delegates visiting Westland. We asked for bread, and one of their party gives us advice found ed on premises which bear its own confounding to anyone who passes through Westland and lias eyes to see to the Wants of Westland. We are disappointed with Mr Marriner and trust the same unfair prejudice does not taint the other members of the Canterbury Progress League.