Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1920, Page 2

The Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, ns Minister of Mines did not give Mr Seddon M.P. a favourable reply in regard to the question appertaining to compensation to gold miners through the embargo on the export of gold during *lie war. At the same time Mr Massey’s negative was supported by very weak reasoning, and by a suggested line of policy entirely opposite to that which his Government has pursued with regard to the produce of the country. In every way possible during the war (as well as before and after) the producers have l)een helped. The Government lay themselves out to do so, and proclaim their actions through the public press at Home in the effort to attract more farmers to the Dominion. What the Government does not or has not done to help the man on the hind, it would be difficult to state. But there is none of this help forthcoming, for the gold miner. Equally so has the sawmiller been penalised to assist the producer —tbe white-haired member of the Colonial family. We noticed the otter day that an East Coast paper drew attention to the curtailment of the export of white pine, and tbe definite restriction of the price'\pf that commodity in the interests of the? dairy farmer. All the anxious care of the Government is being devoted to one class of the community, and th 0 > other have to join in bearing a share of the burden of others in addition to their own. ooM miners’ ease is a strong one. They suffered while others reaped, and even

now the price of material and lal or, coupled with the risk of disposing of their product (owing to currency rates) is a serious handicap to the gold miner. Many of them have been driven out of their holdings. They have had to abandon their workings and plant at a heavy loss because of the difficulties of carrying on. Mr Massey’s reply does not disclose any degree of sympathy for tho gold miner and his troubles to which he became heir iby reason of the war conditions!. The Minister has overlooked his former promise of “the square deal’’ all round, and the miner is left stranded and' unhelped. Evidently the voice of the miner is not numerous enough to make itself heard above tho clamourings of the settlers who ar e receiving special preference on all sides.

At tho Westland Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday night it was mentioned Mr A. J. Harrop’s thesis on the early history of Westland, was being advanced as rapidly as his time snatched from his professional duties and training would permit. Mr Hnrrop indicates that he is going thoroughly into the work of compilation of the early history, and his work promises to be . something of real value for the use of posterity. It is disappointing, however that the first period of the compilation which brings the provincial history to 1876, will not be ready for another two years. If anything could be done to hasten this preparation the Chamber might lend a helping hand. Westland is without its traditional records, being i preserved in a handy form of reference, or in any reasonable sequence, and some historical review of the nature in hand would come to be highly prized. j So far work of this nature has been done very superficially. Booklets and pamphlets dealing with the subject in any manner have been issued, but there is no solid record of those stirring times and events which marked the birth of Westland, and reserved this land of mbuntain, forest and river from nature’s jealous keeping. The early history of Westland should indeed be something of an epic. The penetration and opening up of this country required courage and patience of no mean order. Certainly the magic clink of gold worked its wonders in that direction, hut they are men of a. sturdy race indeed who were lured into the fastnesses of the country and sought for the treasure, the great wealth of which gave New Zealand its initial attraction to the people of the far-off northern hemisphere. That story is worthy of telling in all its wealth of detail—and it has never yet been told as it can be told in the true perspective we have of the deeds of colonisation clone by those who penetrated west and added new territory to the colony and the Empire. Tf, therefore, Mr Harrop’s self-imposed task can be aided in any way, it is due to the community to do so. They owb it to their own times, as above all to tho memory and deeds of the pioneers. The duty is a call upon all who love this Westland to aid in its history being given to the world as completely and faithfully as circumstances will permit.