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Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1921, Page 2

lx Mr Massey the people will have with them for a brief space, to-day and tomorrow the Rt. Hon. Minister of Mines When Mr Massey succeeded to the portfolio he promised the House that he was going into the question thoroughly. Mr Massov was good enough to say in effect that he recognised the needs of the position, and ho was out to supply them. That was many months ago now, and we do not see any material signs of Mr Massey’s activities in tlie Mines Department. That little heard of Department, still appears to he some-

where in Sleepy Hollow, if not actually hybernating, at least doing nothing. We put it to the Rt. Hon gentleman, what is be doing for the great goldmmning industry which helped to rear this country so rapidly to the position it now occupies? We would ask what is the nature of the progressive policy he has in his mind to revive the great industry which in half a century produced nearly eightv-six millions sterling of gold, and which commodity was the magic factor in chief to draw not only hundreds of thousands of people here to settle the country, but also hundreds of thousands of pounds for capital investments in vnrius avenues. The country owes a very great deal to the goldmining industry, and it has given comparatively little in return. Here in Westland we have a highly mineralised territory, and great treasure awaits discovery, but nothing practical is being done to probe tlie depths on tho hidden places to reveal nature’s prodigality. Mr Massey is on the eve of his departure from the Dominion, and we hope that in consequence there will not be a wasted interregnum during his absence, and it should be possible to evolve an active policy for pronouncement at the next session of Parliament. The Mines Statement year after year has been barren indeed of policy. Here is Mr Massey’s opportunity to make good, and at the same time fulfill a long overdue promise to the mining community of the country.

hilt Massey is not Minister of Lands just now, but lie would do West-land a service if the visit of the Minister of Lands fo the district could be arranged. Westland contains a great area of Crown Lands, and Ministers know less of the territory they are in charge of than is good for the sound administration of the Dominion. Westland is still without its soldier settlement, though a few scattered sections are being put iq) for selection at last. Government has been buying dear land in the North Island and elsewhere for settlement, but the cheap land of Westland lias been turned down. Ever since the country set out on its land for soldiers’ settlement policy, Government was invited to turn attention to Westland, and various suitable areas were mentioned but nothing was done. All this time settlement has been forging ahead in Westland and to-day it is more pro- | raising than over. Prices are rising all the time and roads and bridges are needed to give improved access and transport, when settlement will become more general and prosperous still. Wo wish specially to draw the Prime Minister’s attention to the swamp lands of Westland. There was a great flourish of trumpets on the eve of one general election about a special settlement south of Bruce Bay. That promisd, we would remind Mr Massey has never been fulfilled—the swamp lands are still there waiting the postponed Government action. But there are large area* of swamp lands all over Westland which should he turned to account. It would not bfi asking too much for Mr Massey to induce his Minister of Lands to come amongst us with a drainage expert- engineer and see the possibilities of some of tho localities even between here and the Waiho. Large tracts of good country can he converted into settlements if drainage were supplied, and there is no surer investment for the Government .than to help dovelope its own Grown territory for settlement, purposes. ’Westland land has yet to come into its own. Will Mr Massey help?

Mr Marshy, as Minister of Finance, if he had time to look around him while in Hokitika on his all too brief visit, would see that at least- one of his Departments was making frantic efforts to economise. The Forestry Department, for instance, might easily have bought a Rolls-Royce for its local staff, but instead it has purchased a common or garden variety Ford. We hope it is a Canadian Ford so that tlie N.Z. Govern-, mont. will not lie accused of playing into the hands of the U.S. exchange premium. But we do object to the Ford in question coming out in heavy mourning. It is a very sombre black,' relieved only by a glorious coat of arms which convoys to tho benighted mind that the car belongs to the “State Forest Sorvice”—some service what, sirs! We think the ear should be camouflaged in verdant green to make it just | to forestry I But we would ask Mr . Massey to note this car is No 1. How i many more of these joy-riders are to ! lie forced iqx>n the country and paid for out of rising royalties which the public will have to pay, Thereby creat- J ing the high cost of living for the poopie while the Department revels in tho . luxurious cost of high living. The eco-

nomies of the Forestry Department do not stop at humble Fords. The Government- is now employing New Zealand timber exports—what for? To instruct the imported timber experts? We should have thought with high salaried officials brought into the country, the rank and file could be taught all they should know about our timber and how to conserve it under rigorous iegulations. But we are wrong again. The local expert is still necessary to help run the Forestry Department just as

the local expert was necessary to run the Railway Departments, even though we paid £3,000 a year for an expert headpiece. But where are these “economies” going to land the country? Tt- is not a jocular subject with the taxpayer; especially during the next few days when lie* is paying his income tax that the present extravagant methods of departmental extravagance may go on, evidently acl lib.