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Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1921, Page 2

Mkacrk though the attendance was at the farmers’ meeting at the County Chambers on Saturday, organised b.v the Progress League, the discussion was direct enough to enlist unanimous support to the movement in mind to further the farming interests of the district. This it is proposed should be done per medium of rural education, by enlightening the farmers in regard to improved means of productivity, and by bringing the settlers themselves together periodically to talk over their difficulties and seek knowledge from the experience of others. The winter farm school proposal which has been successful in the North Island, anJ is very popular with the firming community in that progressive half of the Dominion, was rather discounted here for some reason. If a winter sehoo 1 is established this season at Lincoln College —as it is likely to be—our advice to the young farmers of the district is to make every efffort to attend it. The experience they will gain and the insight they will obtain into the conduct of a. model farm will well jepay them. Naturally tlm farming conditions so far as soil is concerned, is very different as between Canterbury ami Westland, but there is a great deal else to he picked up in the every day running of the farm: fn the use of machinery ; in the care of the stock j in the* utilisation of waste products etc., etc., apart from tho general organisation of « farm on efficient and wore eco-

nomical lines, that would lie of great value to the young men oh the land, and the outside experience in ft territory essentially agricultural_and pastoial would give thein a great insight as regards farm work. We hope that the winter school project will therefore have good support from this district if students from here may attend. On the question of reviving the annual show, there was marked unanimity on Saturday. It is to he hoped this revival will be brought to pass. The more flourishing conditoin of farming pursuits nowadays will ensure a larger general entry and given the entries the annual exhibition is bound to be a success. Now that Westland is so closely allied with Canterbury we could look for some entries from that quarter, and they would be a valuable contribution from an edu- , ( . a tivo point of view. The interest now aroused in the matter will, we trust, | b'ear good fruit, nikl that ere next February collies round, a well-organised district show will he arranged for.

As nominations for various vacancies in local public bodies close at noon tomorrow, no apology is necessary from us for. again referring to the matter, and reminding the citizens of theii duty to the community. Local government depends for its success and usefulness on the people themselves. It is in their power to make or mar it. Of late there has been much complaint about the shortcomings of local government as affecting the town. Public opinion is awakening to a sense of civic obligations, and there is a desire to sec the municipality improved in 11 reasonable wav. su that in outvvaid appearance it will present a more creditable aspect. The people themselves must foci that, there is the need for those amenities in citizen life which while they mark other places with distinction. are here absent. We believe there is the desire that these wants should he made good. Given a practical lead Hi a definite 'municipal policy, wo are persuaded that the ratepayers will support reasonable expenditure to improve the roads and footpaths, add to the utilisation of the public reserves, and give the town a reliable water supnly capable of meeting daily and hourly •ill fair demands upon it. The town with its present air of prosperity and its prospects ahead, can afford to take some pride in its appearance and some action to supply the outstanding needs of the place. The people we have no doubt whatever, will support fair proposals along such lines, so that citizens prepared to give a lead m such matters would find their actions endorsed b.v the ratepayers if concrete improvement proposals were put forward. The time is therefore very opportune for direct action in the effort to advance the town, and such an opportunity should induce capable men to come forward and lend a helping hand at this juncture. Often what is everybody’s business has nobody’s attention: hut we hope it will not he so now. The state of (he town is of course everybody s business, hut under the liberal franchise and the benefits of local government, we hope sufficient public spirited men will come forward to-morrow bent on removing the reproach of the past and determined to see the old town advanced to a much higher state ol municipal enterprise.