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Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1921, Page 2

Anothki? phase of the Drimo Minister’s exp4»riences was liis heart to heart talk with tlu- farmers’ representatives at Wellington oil Tuesday. Tin* honors were with Mr Massey, who maintained his optimistic outlook throughout. The complaint of farmers and their spirit of pessimism can he well understood in view of the decline iu prices of staple products. Mr Massey touched a vital spot when In* referred to the buoyant character of the

farmers’ trading during the late good seasons. Apparently they like many others went, full steam ahead, irrespective of the future, and believing the good times would hiat indefinitely. Thsy did not evidently practiio habit* of thrift. On the contrary with the inflated values of land, they secured larger advances by way of mortgages and hank overdrafts. The 'reckless spirit has had its t*onseipi.ences sooner than was calculated upon. The slump came with unexpected suddenness, and the farmers have been caught in its toils. The deputation which waited on Mr Massey , however, was emphatic in its demands for retrenchment as a means to erase taxation. The Government has to face that issue. According to the Prime/Minister it is doing so now, hut the! effect is not visible yet. Tli© deputation was never the less important as representative of the primary producers', and it probably accomplished it.s object in publicly ventilating th© financial outlook. We must not forget that on the eve of leaving New Zealand, Mr Massey in a private oonferenct) with a Postal deputation was probably as pessimistic about the financial situation as the farmers are now. Borne of his statements then could well be quoted against the Premier now. Put ho i-s bent on redeeming the position and it is to be hoped he will take the opportunity of doing w. A FIUENOIiY invasion of Westland 110posed bv „ bu-ge party »f Ci.ntorbiiniuis ,vlm ore undertaking a walking tour to this district in the coming holidays is proof of the fort that the easterners

are beginning to look well to the v c.,t. In due season, the pilgrimage will grow j in volume, and the highways east and ( west will once again be alive with traffic Tim visiting band propose to Undertake a walking tour, which is c a veily pleasant way of seeing the- c country. They will be sure to have a < hearty welcome along the route, and no doubt the local branch of Do 'Progress League will co-operate in makin- the tour a.s successful as possible. | Fifty active healthy young men touring the district, and being as they will be impressed with "bat they see, "ill - 1 ’ j walking advertisements elsewhere later ( as to the potentialities of "Westland. The idea of spending tlie holidays m ’ the way proposed is l.olji useful and healthy! Air Seddon writing the oM-'r I day remarked that finite a number of young men from the North Island were going to take on a . walking tour Through .South W-stlnid this year. , crossing by the Hnust to Otago. 'I ho ! dcsiro to explore Westland is evidently spreading and it is a sign of the ,-b-mg-ing times. Westland "ill soon be coming into its own. It- is welt to .n- ---. courage the new departure and to assist visitors in every way. It “ .’ins

an opportune time to estal.lisb a tourist bureau here, so that visitors passing through " ill glvnn all the inform i.„m they call and learn bow to visit tlie more interesting parts of the district. It would be a most useful way of a 1vertiising the district.