The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, MAY 12th, 1922. OUR RESOURCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, MAY 12th, 1922. OUR RESOURCES.

Thk definite statement of Dr Bell is 1,0 the uotential resources of Westland which was reprinted in our leading col. minns last week, recalls tliat since the research explorations of the geologist in l')os—some, seventeen years ago

- --very little lias been dono to follow up the line of thought there put before the Government and the country in the voluminous reports which were publish, ed at the time. Dr Bell mentions two of the outstanding features of Westland’s latent wealth—its forests and its minerals. No doubt il the explorer’s work had been followed up at the time, a very different t»le could I e told to-day. But, following Dr Bell’s work there was an indifference as to the development of the natural features of the country. Trade and commerce were good, and tile country was eonteut to drift along in placid waters, sufficient for the day being at hand. Not only were developmental works neglected, hut a new spirit grew up, and we see it manifested to-day in’ the ministerial mind associated with both forestry and mining matters. In the former instance the forests appear to he considered for ornament rather than iiso. Certainly the latter may not come into vogue till the unborn millions arrive at maturity. It does not appear a mutter of securing now in these times of need and stress what we can out of the God-given wealth from the forests hut to defer that valuable resource for a more favored period. Notwithstanding that this is so; posed to be an age of democratic government, forestry administration lias liecoine bureaucratic, with an autocrat at the head of affairs. There is no appeal from what the head of the Forestry Department may d> and already folk are finding how signally autocratic that arili of the administration is. Dr Bell told ns of the great wealth of AYestlftnd’s timber resum ces aiid private enterprise wiis encouraged to go ahead iu the endeavour to retrieve that wealth, hat to-day :• hew Department is dogging the Wheels of enterprise and pursuing a policy des tilled to very seriously cheek olir greatest industry; As regards mining, wo seen! to have a Minister who does nen warm lip to his subject at all. His e : pressiotl of opini. u in regard to dredging operations in this vicinity has been such that if the enterprising Company which came here and expended something up to six figures, were to seek to launch out per favor of the present Minister’s consent, the Company would have a difficulty in securing a footing! The mineral potentialities according to Dr Bell are the greatest assets of Westland, yet they are almost entirely neglected hy the Mines Department. In other Departments such as Agriculture. Tourist and so on, the Ministers have always launched out seeking fresh fields to bring gi eater activity to their respective nranehes of administration. But milling interests are at a stand still except where private enterprise steps in, and then have to put up with ill-judged criticism from those in high places. The people of Westland should assert themselves on the two as. pects referred to so materially governing the future of the Province. The district has great latent wealth under proper development, and favourable treatment should be pressed for, rather than the present form of negati e attention the industries have to put i.p with.