Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPT. 25th, 1920. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPT. 25th, 1920. THE WEEK.

It is almost impossible nowadays to take up a “serious” publication without finding some reference to the high cost of living. Mr A. D, Noyes discussing its causes in a. magazine, holds out some hope that it 'lias reached its zenith. He prophesies a downward movement on a considerable scale; indeed in America it seems already to have begun. But the most optimistic forecasts wstrn us that prices wifi never •return to their pre-war level. American papers indicate that the markets in the United States have become very sensitive. The reason given is that everybody is credited with knowing that prices have been abnormally high, and it is only a question of time when a decline must set in. The whole structure of wages and prices has been created by temporary and extraordinary conditions, and practical people have realised that they must be prepared to shift their position as conditions change. Once confidence in the future of prices is shaken, buying naturally stops and everybody looks for a safe shelter until, conditions clear up. Such a situation developed in America in the early months of 1919, but the-theory thrift prices were about to find a permanently lower level at that time proved to be a false one. The demand for war supplies fell off but a great backed-up demand from the regular trades promptly absorbed all the labor released from the war industries and from the armies and even forced [pices to higher levels than were reached during the war. So far as opinion goes in America in financial circles the prevailing idea about prices is that an effective stop has been put to tho upward movement and there is a unanimous sentiment of relief over the fact. The endless round of rising wages and prices coilld not go on indefinitely. The sooner the rise was stopped the sooner might stable condij tions be reached. If this proves to lie accurate in respect to the United States the time cannot be far distant, i when it will reflect itself in other parts of the world. The improved ocean transport by the freeing of additional tonnage will be helpful to New Zealand. 'Hiis Dominion still suffers by the difficulty of securing fulfillment of its oversea, orders, but additional ships ere finding their way to New Zealand and increased stocks will in themselves assist to regulate prices. Pbospecting for coa] at Koiterangi is not a new proposition to the people of this district. Back thirty years or so ago the public of Hokitika subscribed liberally for the maintenance of a prospecting party at Koiterangi and a tunnel was driven into t- l »o Hill for some distance and was obliterated afterwards by a slip. The location was different to the one revealed about 1907 by Dr Bell’s party. In the official bulletin it is recorded that from time to time prospecting for coal has been undertaken in tho district both in like-

y and unlikely localities, but the reui ts have not been satisfactory. Many ears ago, commented Mr P. G. Mor;an in 1908, outcrops were discovered n the Koitn'rangi hill shales and some, vork done, but the seams proved to be if poor quality, small and broken. Later Jr Morgan gave it as his opinion that :oal might be found by boring into !ie flat at Koiterangi, but this task lias never been attempted. Writing jf the discovery of the coal deposits ugh up on Koiterangi or CamelbacK liill, Mr Morgan say s “good exposures were to be seen in a small creek bed.” This is probably the outcrop in which the settlors of the district are at present interesting themselves. Mr Morgan describes it as an impure coal seam 6feet to Bfeet thick, and seventy feet above is an over lay of carbonaceous shaly band of uncertain extent. The limestone in the vicinity is described as containing a, high per centage of carbonite of lime. In a further reference to the coal find Mr Morgan remarks that the lower seam is 61 feet, thick and that an 18in. band towards the top is of better quality than the lower 5 feet. “The better quality” is to be seen now, being a bright black coal, which tested on the ground burned readily and well. The analysis showed a content of five per cent sulphur. The coal deposit so near at hand should not be longer neglected and steps should be taken to have the location well prospected!. With coal at the present price and scarce at that, a local development would be a splendid ..ssel to the district. Recent visitors speak of the outcrop at Koiterangi as being

equal to much of the best Reefton coal 1 ■sent here- and also equal to the Avoca coal on the .Canterbury line. J In the Railways Statement delivered in the House this week it is shown f that the revenue over the lines comprising the Westland section was £159, . 322 and the expenditure £139,457. j This gave a credit of £19,865. The re- j venue increased by £7,353. The passengers increased by 52,160, and 'ive ] stock by 3,598. The revenue earned j )v»as equtal to 14/5} per train mile j the average for the Dominion being 15/6. The cost for the opened lines was £2,122,303, and unopened £789,534. This cost includes the Midland Railway expenditure as well as the expenditure by the Greymouth harbor board on the railways and wharves. There is thus considerable loading for the Westland railways to carry. This overburden taken into account reduces the rate of intcirest earned to only *lB/9, whereas the average for the Dominion is £4 10s Bd.. It- would be interesting to get the details affecting the GreymouthRoss section, but these can he gleaned in part only. The number of tickets issued were:—Ross 17,638; Hokitika, 25,593; Kumara 7,644. Ross sent outwards 1,421 cattle and 5,454 sheep; Kumara 546 cattle and 4,454 sheep; Ross 12,578 hundreds of feet of timber; Hokitika. 142,675 and Kumara- 153,849. The total values of passenger tickets and freights were : —Ross, £4,028; Hokitika £17,555; Kumara £9,147. These total £30,731. The (evenue rom the Greymouth and Otira end for the line has to be added, and. £20,000 would be a fair sum to so add, making a total of £50,000 revenue. The average earnings of the 160 miles of railway in the Westland section is £I,OOO per mile, so that actually the Greymouth-Ross section of 40 miles, has £IO,OOO to the good above the average. This is the line which it was predicted once would not pay axle grease. If the line were extended farther south its earning power would he increased substantially, Tlie figues should speak most eloquently to the Government if the country’s policy is to support necessary and remunerative lines. The volume of the traffic on the Ross line shows how a railway penetrating south will create traffic and lead to industrial developments possible only through ready means of transport. The country can well afford to tack another ten miles on to the Ross line and tap the Wnitaha country. In the Legislative Council this week, an important motion bearing on the welfare of the nation was tabled by Dr Collins. The motion is on the right lines, and is suggestive of humanitarian legislaton along wh c h the Liberal policy formerly trended. The motion foreshadows a policy which carried into effect would tend to uplift the race and endow it with means to live a comfortable healthy life. The attainment would not be achieved by the mere adoption of the resolution: That, how ever, is a first essential, and carried, it would be for the Government to shape the policy—which would be a. gradual process of adaption to the ideals aimed ' at. The motion proposes that the state should take charge of the health of its citizens. This is essential, particularly in regard to the young, and a case reported in the telegrams this week demonstrated how watchful the authorities should be. The checking of the wastage of infant life has been material of late, but still there is need for much propaganda work among wives and mothers. The war claimed 17,000 dead, and returned to us many hundreds broken in health and maimed. Its cost in money was enormous. The country found the money when put to it. It could find tho lesser sum necessary to cany out Dr Collins’ health scheme, and the va,lue in human life saved to the country would repay the cost over and over again. As to thrift, this cannot he inculcated too early, and what is hoppening about us day by day shows the need for adults as well as the young possessing the virtue of thrift. With compulsory provision enacted regarding savings in early life, there would be no less call for pensions for the -.aged. As to the general health by the prevention and cure of disease, this is a forward step which is now a necessity. The war among other things has left its legacy of disease, and this requires to bo combated in a scientific manner, if the world is to be freed from serious and devastating epidemics. The motion proposed by Dr Collins is in the right direction and will be altogether for the good of tho race. The coal situation in New Zealand, is serious, not to say dangerous. The Prime Minister has issued a warning to the public to he prepared for any emergency. From time to time he has raised the cry of “wolf,” but though the position recurs, the Government ta-kos no definite action; There seems to he the call for definite as also drastic action. It is ridi-

■ 1 1 culoub for the country to go on indefinitely hampered as at present. If the coal miners have any real grievances, settle them by all means, and as generously as you 'will, but if the grievances proved to be trumped up for the occasion, serving only to hamper the situation for some ulterior end, then 09me down like a thunderbolt and end fhe tension. The people of this country wish their public- services to be carried on in a reasonable way. But it is not reasonable for the miners to work just when they like and how they like. A fair day’s pay demands in returii a fair day’s' work. There aire two parties to be. satisfied in this bar-gain—-those who pay and those who work —and if the parties are not mutually satisfied with, each other, let there bo a dissolution of the partnership, and other means adopted to work the mines and produce the qoal. The coal is an economic necessity, for from it so much of the daily life of the community is drawn. It is indispensible for labor itself which draws so much of its occupation from the use of coal. The coal supply is a national question, and it is time the country spoke and acted in a national way, and so ended a condition of affairs which is alike retard ing progress and adding to the increased cost of living. The Government has a majority in the House to back it in definite action. There is a majority outside the House to support Parliament. The time for words has , long passed. It is time now for deeds. Has ; Mr Massey the will to do his duty to the nation in this matter? » -- ,1 fxt.