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Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1921, Page 2

[n a recent declaration of tli ( > p tblie works policy made in the North Island, Hon .1 .11. Contes declared: ‘My duty is to spend the money in the district from which 1 am going to get tlv bestreturns for my oxponditnie, and iv idi is going to open up country, and which is going lo produce production.” Mr Coates was talking in particular of railway construct ion. and tbe ideas be expressed appear to fit in very i-r-lii-plotoly with the ease for tbe South West Lund rail wily construction. The railway just referred to, fits oxa"i.L' tlii> three cardinal points which the lion Minister colls for. It will give the best return for tbe expenditure, because tbe railway will be chiefly for the lietterment of Clown land and holdings, not private, freeholds; it will open up country certainly, and bring a great expanse of territory into active use by reason of the facilities for getting tbe natural products away ; a I’d finally it will increase production, first through the facilities for timber export, and second by increasing tbe pastoral lands for reproductive dairying or stock raising. Wo have seen already li'ow it has paid private enterprise to go on with a- privately owned line of fourteen or tifteen miles in length, involving the construction of two large bridges, and the negotiation of some swamp country. This venture in itself is a guarantee that- the lino will bo of a productive nature, that it. will create industry, and be the vehicle for an important extension of milling. Private enterprise is going to construct n line fully as. long as the Hokitika to Boss Government line, and nit enterprise of such magnitude should b" warraiitrv enough to the Minister of Biiblic Works that here in Westland is a field for railway extension and expenditure complying with the basin conditions on which be was founded bis railway construction j« l lii-y.

It is not altogether clear from the cable news published ul the time of wiitiug. how far de Valera has gone in accepting the invitation to the uinfereiice with tbs British Cabinet regarding Irish affairs. That the conference is likely to eventuate seems now quite certain from which we may assume thal Mr 1.10.vd George has gained his crucial point not to accept the plenipotentiaries as other than representatives of Empire territory. "'The comment of the French press < n the situation is illuminative as disclosing an outside view. There are those of course wlio in their baste lo prejudice the Prime Minister over Irish affairs, seek to condemn him as the arch conspirator in forcing a wedge into the Fruucoliritish entente. There is ample evidence to discount such a wild statement, but it is still being made and "allied all round the world. Mr 1.10.vd George if be is anything, is a pacifist. fjut if lit- lias to light. In- is not above taking up the cudgels in such a way as to discomfort bis opponents. That however is another question. So far as Irish affairs are concerned, if the de Yaleia party is wishful to aim at the restoration of peace and good will within the Empire they will and should' lie most willing tw accept the invitation to the «Ji,ritisli Government. To do any less, ami particularly to reject it is to repudiate allegiance to the British Crown, and such a step could not of course be connived at b,v the British Government. If so irrevocable a step be taken, it will plunge the country into a most regrettable position and Ireland would lose llio support and sympathy of the world.