WESTLAND DEPUTATION

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1922, Page 3

WESTLAND DEPUTATION

interesting details. (By Teicgraph.— Special lo Guardian.) CHRISTCHURCH June 5. The Westland deputation were met Oil arrival by the Chairman and Organiser of the Progress League, who escorted them to their hotel. On Saturday night the visitors were guests at the Savage Club’s commemoration of Empire Day. The gathering was a notable one and was greatly enjoyed by the visitors.

Yesterday the Progress League drove tlie visitors to West Eyre ton, "hero tlie Prime Minister was unveiling a war memorial. The visitors were the guests of the memorial committee. In the afternoon the opportunity was afforded of meeting Mr Massey, wlm cordially welcomed the “great pillars of the West Const-” as lie jocularly lemark-(-d to T-lon. Michel and party.

Last- night several of the visitors were invited to the Press Club where, the principals of the Williamson Opera Cov.. were guests.

On all sides the Coasters are being cordially welcomed and pleasure is being expressed at tlie visit. Mr Kin near of the Y.M.C.A., who led the walking party to the Coast at Xmas waited on members of the Progress League regarding a repetition of the trip next Christmas. Mr Evans is to meet the A.M.C.A. Committee next month and discuss the details of the tour, which will be an extension of last season’s toiir. Mi Kilinear states the trip "ill be very popular, a number of young men expressing the intention of making tho trip. The “Lyttelton Times” reports that F. B. Glasgow’s condition is slightly improved.

AN INTER view

Messrs Jeffries and Kvaiis last night j told a ‘Lyttelton Times” reporter some j interesting facts connected .with the tie- ( putatjons mission and Westland affairs in general. Apart front the great national aspect the tunnel Wits wanted, Mr Jeffries said, because the lmtter and ytiee.se season tv as about to open, f* ae- * tories last year suffered considerable j inconvenience and loss because <> 1 the inability to get shipping. Westland people realised that Canterbury Cm- j gross Longue ha,l been a. great factor j iu speeding up the work at the tun- j nel and were indebted to a great, extent | for the assistance of the League. West- , land residents realised that Canterbury j eventually would be a, market tor West- j land. All stock could he sent over to i the plains and wool which had been sent to Wellington previously would come here. The opening ol a market would materially increase the production of stock on the West Coast during the next few years, for production just now was limited by the inadequacy of transport facilities. In making their demands of the Prime Minister, the deputation realised that the financial position of the Dominion at present was not too favourable, but from a national standpoint it had to he considered that an enormous amount of capital had been sunk in the under- • taking of the tunnel, aiid it/would ho in the best interests of the Dominion to have that capital earning something. As soon as that, hope was consummated there must be an influx of population. Westland people considered the right land was there available

in its virgin state at from £2 to £2O per acre. There has been a mining boom in Westland. According to tlic gentlemen interviewed it was stated that this boom was started by the American Syndicate which was working the Bimu Flat country by the latest pattern of 'Dredge. The returns were sometimes up to 800 ozs a fortnight.

The advisability of erecting a second I such dredge was being considered. The dredge had been working for about eight months and if the returns continued as good as they had teen up to the present, all the capital expondi- ; ture would ho returned.

An indication of the progressive spirit of the farmers was afforded by the fact that the settlers bad themselves been raising local loans for building bridges and forming ro. ds i• ■ the hackblocks districts. Which of file two towns, Hokitika

and Greymoiith is going to benefit most-

as a result of the railway being opened. Tn -answering the question, Mr Jeff lies said that matter was problematical. He would say at the outset that though some districts might benefit, none would suffer, lie believed himself that Hokitika would have little more of tlie plums than any other Coast town. The reason for that view was that there was an enormous amount of country below Hokitika .yet- to be occupied, and brought into cultivation. At present there was room for dairy factories in Koitcrangi, Ross. Dry Creek. Cook’s. Karangarua. Bruce Bay, Tlaast. and Okurii. Tn the Watnron district which bad established a Dominion record for the quality of its cheese, tlie settlers at the moment were raising ndditioanl capital for the erection of a butter mnkjgn plant. The outlook for the hotter and cheese industry for the coming year indicated that there would be 100 per cent increase in value of exports Ibis year. Last year.the total exports were £17.000. Some of the factories were milking twice as many cows as they were two years ago. Tn many respects Westland was like Taranaki, but of course tlie former bad, not yet the closer settlement that the latter bad, though that would come when the Otira tunnel was opened.

PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. CHRISTCHURCH. .Tune 5. The deputation to the Prime Minister had a cordial reception. Regarding the opening of Otira Tunnell for traffic. Mr Massey was optimistic about . traffic over the Midland Railway and the o|>cning would be hastened, lie thought in any ease that provision would he made for the coming season, for the transport of dairy produce through the tunnel. He would ask the Minister of Public Works to do the host they could about Waitangi bridge construction.

The promise made in reference to Royalties payable to local bodies would la* kept.

Regarding an amending schedule to Hie Highways Bill, he suggested that Mr Jeffries confer with tlie Minister of Public Works at Wellington to-morrow, which would lie done.

An increase ol hospital subsidies would lie •governed l>v the financial position of tlie country.

Railway traffic would he revised as soon as passible and certainly to some extent at the end of the winter. He thought the request regarding prospecting most reasonable, and would confer with the Minister of Mines on the sulijei i.

Re Wells Bros ease the 'quit’.es of matter would he considered as it "as not intended to do any injustice. Mr Jeffries extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Westland at his earliest convenient opportuiiitv. which Mr Massey said lie would

The delegation returns to-morrow. fUY TKI.EGItAfH—PKIt PHKBS ASSOCIATION]

CiIRISTCIIUROH. June 5 Tin- W-st Coast deputation waited . .he Premier and asked amongst nt'ier tilings that f!okitilia-Ross railwav sen ice he restored. Mr Massey said as the financial and commercial .iniditions continue to improve it v.,-iilil be possible to restore some time tidies. It was noticeable that motor traffic was cutting into the railways and it was Government's duty to adjust matters. A nniln invitation was extended lo Mi Mnssev to visit the Coast. Tlie Pto.eier said he wind 1 he glad to accept th,. invitation this siiiinn r. if lie eiuH afford the time. The Premier was asked lor a grant „f £IOOO for prospecting gold in Arahera district and said the request was a modest one. He would consult the Minister of Mines as to whether the grant could bo made.