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Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1920, Page 2

Sinck penning the foregoing, particulars have come through of an economy campaign being conducted at Home by the ' press as a means to combat tli£ threatened dislocation of trade and conse^ ! quent 'unemployment. The conditions In England are very much akin to the situation Uhgjy to arise in this country. ( The money market is restricted and the banks are refusing advances- The dependence upon capital for national prosperity‘is being demonstrated, and when the pinch is felt here by reason of tbe shortage, conditions of a like nature will arise so far as employment is concerned. The result should not come as a surprise. It has been predicted time and again. The Prime Minister has read the signs and lectured Parliament and the country upon the impending situation, but .unfortunately there ha# been no practical effort on the part of tit? fifovernment to meet the unfavorable change. The depression now being felt at Honift will reflect itself in various ways overseas. The British Government is endeavouring to adjust itself to the changing conditions, but the task in other respects is hercullanean, npd tho marvel is that the financial issue for England has .remained as .favorable as it has don.®. Here in New Zealand the political .position with its widespread responsibilities, is not so intricate.. We have. our domestic concerns mainly to grapple with. Britain is entering the trying winter months

and we have a, more favorable season ahead. Our task is comparatively light and easy compared to the British citifcen artd taxpayer who is carrying the main burden of Empire—and carrying it uncomplainingly. The plight of Britain we should take to heart, and bogin betimes to prepare for the more stringent times now overtaking us. They will be. overcome assuredly but the duty is to overcome them with the least inconvenience to our people and | with the desire to avoid any serious . possibilities arising to injure the fame and good name of our country.

Westland Provincial Day, being celebrated to-day, dates from 1874. It was in 1860 that Mr Mackay, the Government Agent purchased the whole of the West Coast, some' seven and a half million acres, for Queen Yictoria, for the sum of £3OO. The gold rushes began in 1864, but it was the following year before Westland was considered a great gold-producing district. The Coast at that period was partly in the Nelson and partly in’ the Canterbury •provinces. This particular district, 1 south of the Grey river was in the Province of Canterbury. Isolated and remote from the seat of Government there was much dissatisfaction about the way in which the common fund for roads, tracks and bridges was administered, and l there was a secession 1 movement started. _ln 1867 Westland was separated from Canterbury and the County of Westland was constituted with local government of its own. The late Sir John Hall was the first chairman of that legislative body. Hon. J. A. Sonar and Mr W. Shaw of the “West Coast Times” were the Hokitika representatives, Messrs J. White, and W. Harrison represented Greymouth and Messrs John Clark, T. Keary, Ed. Barff, and Conrad Hoos represented the rest of Westland. The Council in those days administered primary education among its own duties. In the second session (1868) the Council dealt with waste lands, a marine survey of the Coast, establishment of hospitals and the furtherance of education. At that time Westland was saddled with a big share of the debt held to be due to Canterbury, the payment for interest and sinking fund alone being £11,600 annually. In 1872 failing goldfields revenue put the Counoil into financial straits, which were accentuated when the General Government impounded £3,000 of gold duty. In 1873 a loan of £50,000 from the public funds eased tl\te position temporarily, and in 1874 Westland became a province, the fifrst Provincial Superintendent being Hon. J. A. Bonar. Among the first members were the late P. Dungan, A. It. Guinness, E. T. Robinson, R. J. jSeddon, F. C. Tabart, W. Todd, E. A. Wickes, while honest John White was Speaker. A forward public works policy was decided upon, and £73,500 was was borrowed for reproductive works. In 1875 the financial troubles of the province were as acute as under the legislative County system previously obtaining. Westland was no exception to other parts of the colony, and in 1876 the provinces were abolished, and the municipal and county systems as we have them largely to-day, came into force. Westland became a County in 1876, with the boundaries as we know them to-day, practically. Hokitika was constituted a borough in 1868, Kumara in 1877, and Ross in 1878. Many cf the leading men who figured in Westland’s brief provincial career, afterwards played an important part in the political history of New Zealand, the following sitting in Parliament; Hon. J. A. Bonar, Messrs Lahman, Barff, Button, Guinness, and last but not least, R. J. Seddon. Very able men sprang from the ranks here, and served their country right well in a higher sphere. That there were giants in those days, was shown by the pioneers in every walk of life who were drawn to the Coast, and gave of their best to assist in opening it up. Of that noble band we may say something later.