The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” MONDAY, JULY llth., 1921

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” MONDAY, JULY llth., 1921

WAKING CD WESTLAND. Tim movement made by the local branch of the Progress League to draw attention to the potentialities of Westland, is too important to lie lost sight of. It is not sufficient to merely point to the resources of the district, and suggest a way whereby they might be developed and made use of. The prospects are so promising, that the important subjects opened up at last week’s meeting should be handled by sub-committees determined to achieve some actual results. These are the times when only persistent, agitation is likely to catch the ear of the authorities, the help of whom it will lie necessary to obtain to further the large interests involved in furthering the development of Westland. The people require to wake up to a sense of the great resources of the place, and as good citizens they have the boundon duty to perform to ‘endeavour to seek the proper utilisation of the treasures within our grasp by effective development. Take mining for instance. That is a direction in which much requires to lie made. Him Michel gave a cue in regard to district prospecting, and it might well be taken. Th t , A rah ura domain should lie auriferous. Some rich patches of gold were found in the Lark Terrace region, but the lead was never traced to beyond the coniines of the Valley. The proposal to initiate a scheme of Government prospecting under proper leadership is one we have long felt impelled to support. A concentrated effort in that direction would lie worth much more to the country than the spasmodic prospecting of “fancy” localities by individual miners. It would be something indeed it the Procress League could induce the Government to set out. on a new line of policy, and certainly in regard to prospecting there is room for the opening of an energetic branch. Then with regard to agricultural and pastoral possibilities the League might assist in the matter of improving the stock of the district. The suggestion that an A. and P. show to he held in the coming summer supplies an opening for the improvement of the stock, and the •(.ensue members should co-operate in

tho effort to make the show as great a success as possible. If such a gathering is arranged for. there is no need to limit tin" schedule of exhibits which

could lie extended to cover all the resources of West-land in regard to competitive displays. No doubt the Agricultural Department would assist again as in the past with important exhibits, and tin- fullest information could be afforded to set-tiers in regard to furthering the development of their holdings by the use of machinery, fertilisers etc. Production of feed is the main element affecting increased herds for the district, ami too much attention to that branch ol pastoral pursuits cannot be devoted at this stage. The Progress Longue has much work ahead of it in driving home the lesson to be derived from Ibe devt-lopinent of the resources. In this connection the agricult a). Mine- and other Departments, should he invited to send down officers ami deliver throughout the district interesting addresses on topics with which they are familiar so as to attract public attention and expand the public mind. We all need waking up to a sense of the potentialities of Westland, and the Progress League can do good service in that direction by continuing the work it has in hand to attain substantial progress throughout, the whole district.