The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” MONDAY, JULY 4th, 1921. GETTING TOGETHER.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” MONDAY, JULY 4th, 1921. GETTING TOGETHER.

To secure progress and advancement, unity is lli 0 most helpful factor. This is evidenced in regard to unions, associations, and what not, all organisations directed to serve the common weal. What applies to individuals embraces also communities, and each and every town and district where there is the progressive spirit abroad, organises and agitates for what it wants, and with persistency achieves all reasonable objectives. The North Island has set a good'example in the direction referred to, and the South Island is now generally following suit. Here on the Coast more than anywhere it is essential to organise to attain those public services and requirements which are most needful for the common progress of the place. I’rovincially we are isolated and cut oil’ from the rest ol the South Island, the Alps forming a, cold, mountain harrier which prevents that regular flow of prosperity serving centres more fortunately placed enjoying swift and regular means of communication. As lo the Cinderella province of New Zealand we lack many of th 0 convenient amenities of life and living which attract help to build up population—the powerful lever in itself to promote prosperity. Lacking so much in that direction, and being in proportion less influential with the powers that he. a material responsibility falls on the people themselves to help themselves, They need to get together, to associate and organise, and not only mention their needs ,but to push their requirements under the notice of the authorities with all the force and influence they can bring to hear. I here is already a certain amount of machinery available locally for tbe purpose. There are the local bodies, and the adjunctive aids to local bodies ill other associations of persons which if unofficial, are no less in earnest in the desire to forge the district ahead, b\ opening it up and developing its resources. This district with its mineral and timber resources; with its undeveloped pastoral prospects: with its great wealth of scenic attractions, and with those natural facilities in climate and situation which make it so pleasantly habitable, has a great future before it. That future is bound uo in the bounty of nature’s lavish gifts all around us. They require development, and to that end it is for the people to associate themselves, and pulling together strive to hasten the time when a richer and more richer return still will he derived from the intent Treasure* of nature. The n|)|>nV'lni)iff f&f till? irFvic* tu help

ourselves is to hand. About a year ago with some flourish of trumpets a Progress League was set up here. It had an influential alliance with the Canterbury Progress League, and till seemed well. But there lias not been that interest and co-operative help from the townspeople and the distri-t that there should luiv,. been. ]L has been left to a very tew to oarrv on. This requires mending. The annual meeting of the League is to bo hold on Wednesday evening and ti • occasion will afford ' the opportunity to the citizens to help themselves. It is for tin 1 people to join up -and by their presence and attention to matters help to infuse full activity into the work of the League. There is much for the organisation to do, and much that the citizens can help in. Especially is it necessary .to make the League a. icnl live institution with power to put forward proposals the accomplishment of which will ensure real progress. Let the people here, as elsewhere, get together. and by unity of action and reasonableness of demands, assist as is their bounden duty to make Westland progress more rapidly than it has ever done before.