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Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1921, Page 2

Tim course of action deemed best in respect to any protest regarding the Forests Hill should be formulated without delay. There slmi'dd be a fusion of local interests in order that any representations made should he not only unanimous, hut also tile more influential. 'l'lie sawmillers and their employees are primarily alfeeted, and in a lessor degree the local bodies, but the general public also have very much at stake in the event of further restrictive regulations being imposed on the sawmilling industry. It would appear therefore that those most directly a fleeted shouHl get together, and decide upon concerted action, when public meetings could he culled and resolutions of protest sent forward not only to the Government hut also to individual mem hers of Parliament. The forestry policy pursued on the present lines of restriction and severe regulation, will specially penalise the forest country. It will retard settlement and development by reason of the fact that the standing timber niny not be milled iiomii ally. This hampering condition will have a. serious effect, all rojind in districts such as this where milling timber abounds ill endless quantity. It is rather remarkable that in localities where there is no timber the Fore-try authorities are carrying on proi agenda work to arouse a public opinion favorable to tho crippling policy complained of. There is thus a growing feeling in support of the policy, and that needs a corrective. The puUlic cjse w7icr,e require to he fully informed of the natural conditions, and where the new policy will lend if given free play. It is a time for action, and those chiefly concerned should he the first to mo o and move betimes. Let’s tajk about the weather. The Coast lias sAimothing of a reputation for rain—admittedly so, hut there is another side to the question, and that is governed by tho sunshine the Coast enjoys. It was said not so long ago that although tho record for ra.in here is substantial, the bulk of the rainfall is over night! Apart from the general knowledge that this is so, there are the facts deduoeable from tho sunshine figures, which show that Westland stands well up the list in the favor of Old Sol. Hero are some figures of the bright sunshine records throughout the Dominion, which indicates how hie'. Hokitika, stands in the list. The record is for a period of .six mlonths. ended June 30th last, and gives the hours of blight sunshine registered at the various stations:

Napier H’ r>B ! Christchurch 1072 Masterton 1008 HOKITIKA w;SB Wellington Auckland Gkiro n 0 0) Dunedin 952. Not only does Hokitika bold a.n eminently conspicuous position, hut the fact that it averages nearly six hours sunshine for every day of the six months, hears out tlie contention that the bulk of our copious rainfall is registered over-night. Incidentally, too, Hokitika and district can claim a good share of those rare and radiant (lays of clear calm sunshine which are so ideal and ski typical of the Coast.. Altogether our weather is something to talk about and compares more than favorably with all parts of New Zealand mpst of which invariably refer fo ns as the Wei West Coast. Really the Coast, is where the sun shines the brightest. •