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Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1922, Page 2

Til hue was a complaint at the meeting of the Progress League oil Thursday night last, that it was not receiving the public support it should. We do not know that there is any unfriendly opposition to tire League. In fact it would be surprising if there were, s cing that the League since its inception has been carrying on a public duty iii a most commendable manner. Probably the fact that there are so many local organisations bent on helping the district forward, and an undue strain as it were on th ( > folk available to do tin* spade work in these matters, accounts tot the alleged public riulifforence. IL is not improbable, also, that tin* League its doing its self-imposed task so well that the public are content to let the Willing ones carry on tin' goixl wor!:. The L is faithfully attending to a class of work which it is doing very well. It is a free lance and has very inlluentiai support in Canterbury where it is linked up with the parent body. This feature is perhaps overlooko:!, but it : s of special importance when it is a case of calling in outside help. In regard Lo the Otira Tunnel wor!:. w'e know that the Canterbury Progress League hack d .is it is by the Canterbury members of Parliament, and the loc*aj bodies of the Province, has been a tower of strength in recent years. The annual meeting of the local League falls to he held next month. It behoves the citizens to take something more than a passing interest in the affairs of the League. The work of the League is all for the public good, and it should have a liberal town and country support, for its operations take in all parts of the district. We trust that as a result of the coming annual meeting, there will be no occasion in the future to complain about the apparent indifference of the public at large.

That hardy recurring annual -the undertaking of the Bruce Bay Landing—cropped up at the Progress League meeting again last week. Por years now a Parliamentary vote has appeared time after time for the carrying out of the work. But nothing is done. •Last year an offeer was sent down to report, but there is no sign of the work being undertaken. The Minister of Public Works lately visited the locality, but AJi' Coates gave no expression of official opinion as to what would be done. It is to be hoped he realised what it meant to the settlers and

to the encouragement of settlement in what is a typical back-block district, ft is a district without road access, and though there is a good hay, all shipping has to be done from the open bench in small boats through the surf. The settlers have had to put up with ureat loss and hardship through tte primitive methods adopted for shipping goods. Yet, an expenditure of £1,300, it is said, will provide a Landing where small boats may anchor in safety, and transhipments can be made without the risk and danger of attempting to land through the rolling surf on the beach. With n small hand crane on the Landing goods can no quickly handled and loaded safely and dry into l'i : sett is’ drays. This Landing would be a great I >ooll to the district and would faeiliP le export greatly. It would give the people more confidence in the district when there was an assured means of export. For the important area of South Westland, stretching from Weheka to the Pariuga, the Laiil'i'ig win'd serve a most important purpose, and the request for the accomplishment of the work should be pressed with all possible fervour till the end in view is gained.