Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPT. 10th, 1920. SOUND ADVICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPT. 10th, 1920. SOUND ADVICE.

The late visit of the Canterbury delegates to this district is being reflected in various ways. First, and foremost there was the splendid advertisement which has been given to the Coast on the other side of the ranges. For a fortnight 'the four daily papers in Christchurch had paragraphs, articles and special telegrams recording the doings of the delegation and spreading broadcast the impressions of the visitors. That generous publicity has led to the Coast being better known, and we finust better understood- At all events Canterbury folk are dropping this way to spy out the land and glean what is available at suitable prices for occupation and permanent settlement. This is a practical outcome

s of the visit for which the Coast will I l)o always grateful. Then, there were the supplied by the delegates to their respective organisations. These contained not only impressions, as also suggestions as to the immediate re. quirements of the Coast, but went further and filled in useful advice as to the furtherance of settlement in the district. In this respect the agricultural members and writers of the delegation offered very sound opinions , n the land and its treatment, as well as the stock and its shortcomings. That advice- would not be taken amiss, for I it was given .geneuinely and gfenerousj Iy for the benefit of whom it might concern. It has been recognised for t long that enough use is Hot being J made of the Westland land. Far too ; much of it is left to nature to supply ( in her own patient way the fodder required for the maintenance of the stock-. Nature will always do her part patient- . ly, but if assisted with implement and fertiliser, the land will respond much j quicker and more richly to the attention. The advice to “drain, plough ! and lime” is sound and might well be taken to heart by those on the land • wishing to get full value from their holdings. The visit of the Canterbury farmers should be something of an inspiration to the West Coast farmer, who can afford to take points from the successful men of the other side of the ranges, where agriculture flourishes .-o successfully. Now that settlement is being taken up so seriously'ln -Westland, and with the, influx of new men with the more modern ideas of getting ;

more out of the land by first putting something into it, we may expect to see marked progress in the best class of settlement throughout the district. Many farms within recent years nave taken on a smarter appearance. Fences and buildings are in better kept order, .and if attention will be turned : n the same way to the tilling of the land the results will be no less gratifying to the eye, while the settler will appreciate the improvement through his growing bank account. The rising land values will be an incentive to out up some of the larger holdings and produce closer settlement, which is most desirable here Where population is so badlv needed. The closer the settlement the more marked will be the improvement in the farms, because of the more Intensive cultivation which will be needed The Coast will some day rival Taranaki, and that time will be hastened if the sound advice of our Canterbury friends is followed now enthusiastically.