The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MARCH 13th, 1922. the ministerial visit.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MARCH 13th, 1922. the ministerial visit.

Tiik bonhomie of the Hon. J. G. Coates would make him acceptable in any company. As a Minister he has another attraction —his frankness. The Minister is very likeable, and so hi H brief stay here had a very pleasurable side. Perhaps he did: not promise much, but he expressed his thoughts earnestly and seemed to indicate that he was out to do the best he could whore he realised his attention was necessary. There were one or two aspects of his remarks in the County Chambers on Saturday night worth calling attention to. First of all was his very pleasing declaration that in the ordinary circumstances the Arthur’s Pass Tunnel would be ready for through traffic before the end of the year. That was a very pleasing announcement and we may take it that the period set is well within the mark. All is going well with the works at present. The plant for the power station is on the water and should arrive in good timo. The end of the year will witness the general election, and we should not be surprised if the Department does not anticipate that event so that with a fitting flourish of trumpets the great work for New Zealand may l>e an accomplished fact. It is to be hoped that the Minister is i aiming accordingly and we believe it is quite possible to have through traffic in vogue by the Ist November—a date which would approximate Mr Coates’ idea of “the end of the year period.” The second remark we wish to refer to was the Minister’s statement of the system upon which he works in regard to the allocation of public money. His aim is to allocate available funds where they are most needed. He desires to avoid charges of favoritism or of spoils to the victors and wishes to carry on the public expenditure in a thoroughly legitimate manner. This is. an attitude to - applauded, and on the whole it is rather a pity Mr Ooates is not permitted to carry out his policy along the lines he most desires. His main road scheme of last year was on the right line, but wag rejected he.'

cause it was too ambition?. perhaps ho can bring it about by instalments I At tlie deputation here the Minister hardly appreciated the request of the local body to have the bridges on the main roads kept up to lieary weights. A three-ton limit for a district such as this where settlement and industry in heavy weights are developing, is not conducive to the expansion to be wished for. Probably as the Minister passes through Westland and regards the timber industry in its right light, he will realise the imperative nature of keeping up the- bridges of the main roads to tile weight of the traffic arising from local industries. It will he a short-sighted policy not to do so, for the remissiiess will dog the wheels of progress, and beside checking enterprise, will delay the developments which should remit from active industry. Mr Coates is the roads and bridges Minister. He is the most important Minister of the Crown ns affecting the future of Westland, and we are glad to note that in Air Coates we have a Minister of a friendly disposition, and one who will come to realise the need for extending ~ helping hand to assist the district to develops and progress along natural lines.