The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, JULY 5th 1922. A MEMBER’S DUTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, JULY sth 1922. A MEMBER’S DUTY.

TnF. morning paper at Greymoutli on Monday after correcting its conteni|)orary to sonic extent, dropped back on the Member for Westland as the primal cause of the situation which is upsetting tlie minds of some of the leading citizens in the northern borough regarding the alleged neglect of the fortunes of the town. Somebody has to be blamed other than the citizens themselves who should know best what they want, but lack the civic spirit "to go after ' it,” as the Americans would say. We

■fr id I have thought that tile Member for Westland, l>eing now domiciled in

t e e’neerfill city of Greymouth. would have Mattered the vanity of the people to salne considerable extent. We recall that Mr Kettle and other leading lights, haw been complaining they had not a “resident” member, and now having sc. cured what they wanted—unlike the hoy with Boar's soap—they are not happy. We take it that a Member of Par. ‘ Lament is like anyone else, just as useful as the people care to make him. In Mr Seddon the Westland district has been extremely fortunate in having a representative attentive to its requirements. Mr Seddon—nor any other human being—could be omniscient enough to know exactly what, each and every part of the large electorate wanted. And even if lie were all seeing, be could lint he omnipotent enough to secure it. A vast electorate such as Westland has many and various requirements, and we make bold to say Mr Seddon has done extremely well in attending to those requirements. And We have got to remclnber tdb, the financial stringency extending now over some years. The Government has not the funds to meet all the demands being made upon it. Unless requests cover matters of extreme importance there is no sense in pressing them. It is not the tijne to ask For the rtiboh —it is not available. Greymouth can get along very well with its present railway station. A palatial building would not attract any extra revenue to the department. GreVmoutli station is much abend of either Wellington or Auckland stations, and Grey mouth will not claim to be more important than those cities. Nothing palatial is to be built at Hokitika, but an enlargement of the present structure is necessary to accommodate the growing traffic. That enlargement is being done solely at the decision ,of the officers of the Department, who recognise the vvork is necessary. What Greymouth should dt> is to look within the fbur oorners of the Borough and see what it can ask for legitimately, and then it can expect the support of the Member for Westland. Mr'Sedodn’s position would be weakened seriously if he kept asking for the moon, when everybody knows it is not obtainable. The spasmodic, actions of the Greymouth people in starting a Progress I/eaguo which proved to be stillborn, and in trying to run a Chamber of Commerce which is not financial indicate the real source of weakness in regard to local matters. The people have to assist themselves as othef places do with deeds and not words, and making 'out a good ease will win help. An earnest enthusiastic body, call it what von will, working in the interests of the district, and not of Individual interests, can do a great deal. A Member of Parliament is not expected to work out details and do hack work. He is the representative to add the finishing touches, and if the Greymouth people would realise what they could do to help their member—and do it—they would lie surprised at the results attending their efforts.