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Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1922, Page 2

The outline of the Workers’ Educational Association operations which Mr Belshaw gave to t!»e Progress League 011 Tuesday night, should commend that organisation to the goodwill of the general public. The W.E.A. is now a very active organisation in many parts of the Dominion, and is preparing the way for much useful work of an educational character. The intention to set up a branch here should be welcomed for the reason that the object is bent on promoting general knowledge and giving to the public opportunities for advanced lectures on many subjects affecting daily life, information in respect to which would lie of (great assistance in meeting modern difficulties besetting the people. The scope of the work here i s intended at the outset to cover economies and English literature. A knowledge of finance and financial methods is an urgent requirement these times and any instruction tending to enlarge the public outlook on the subject will he useful. A study of English literature is always helpful and a series of lectures on such a. theme would he most informative to the average. reader. ,A.s a branch of the latter it is intended to establish a literary and debating club, a most useful adjunct to civic life, bent in the right direction. Such a movement was on J the tapis in any case, but if organised | through the W.E.A. it should be on a surer foundation, and with the instruction to lie gained from the accredited lecturers to visit us, should do a great good. The aim of the W.E.A. is for the mental upliftment of the people, and a democratic objetive of that nature should receive very general support.

Some neglected tourist resorts in the district were mentioned at the Progress League meeting this week, -which indicates that the question of tourist traffic in Westland is- far from being effectively organised. New Zealand possesses a Tourist Department which is costing a. considerable sum of money but in this district where nature is so lavish in her beauty spots, the matter of furthering the local requirements in regard to popular resorts—or rather what should bo popular resorts—is left to private enterprise. The Tourist Department ignores and totally neglects tho district. Mt. Greenland which was mentioned the other evening, is the dominating hill over-looking Ross-. Its summit may be reached on horseback, and its outlook affords a particularly fine panorama of Westland territory. Mt Greenland as a tourist resort requires to be put on the map, and it is to be hoped the present interest in tho matter will result in effective attention. As regards a round trip viq

Ivokatahi and the Upper Settlement to Lake Kanieri and crossing the water, returning by way of the Lake Road to Hokitika, there is a trip of varied excellence. It would afford the visitor a glimpse of the pastoral country of Westland; it would give him a view of the mountain scenery in the Styx country; while the crossing of Lake Kanieri permits a, rieiw of |one of the rarest beauty spots in Westland. If) most tourist resorts the Government make a feature of round trips. But, as was remarked above, Westland is ignored and neglected, and if any attention is required to ensure thb round trip trow spoken of, the public bodies will require to take the matter up very determinedly if any thing practical is desired to result.