EAST AND WEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1922, Page 4

EAST AND WEST.

LINKING THE TWO COASTS,

CONFERENCE WITH PROGRESS . LEAGUE.

(“Lyttelton Times” Report)

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug 10.

The delegates from the .West Coast, representing Greyniouth, Hokitika, Westport, Puller, and Keel'ton. met the executive of thy Canterbury Progress League last night at a conference in the City Council Chamber called by the league for discussion of various matters affecting the West Coast. Mr AV. K. M’Alpine president of the Canterbury Progress League, was in the chair, and there was a large attendance. ,c i . i WELCOME TO DELEGATES.

The .president,, heartily welcomed the West Coast delegates who, lie said, were representatives not only of the Westland Committee, hut .also of Hokitika. Grey month and Heelton. ,Ile hoped that this, the first .delegation from the West Coast, would he the forerunner of many delegations, and exchanges of visits, when the Midland Railway was through. When that time came lie hoped that the trade now going to Wellington from the West Coast would come to Christchurch. .Mr 1), J. Evans, president of the Westland Committee thanked the president for the welcome to.the visiting delegates, remarking on the fact that the West Coast fully realised the advantages that would accrue to both provinces from the opening of the Otira funnel. A hearty welcome would await the Canterbury visitors to the Coast when the line was completed. He was, glad to see with them the [foil H. L. Michel and the lion J. Grinmiond. who had both done much to further the completion of the tunnel. Mr J. Steer, chairman of the Grevmouth Harbour Board, also thanked the' president for his welcome, and incidentally expressed the hope that the Hokitika exhibition in 1024 would he a great success. ..Mr C. K. Craig, on behalf of the Puller Progress League, also returned thanks. He said that Puller wanted all the help it could get. particularly in regard, to the completion of the Puller Gorge railway and tho<<onsequeilt opening up of vast coal measures.

Mr .James Patterson said lie hoped the. Reef ton Progress League would soon link up with the Canterbury League to work out the great destiny of bulb provinces. Mr J. 11. BlackweM said that Canterbury looked forward to greater in-ter-communieaUon between the two coasts. The connection would he extremely valuable, for it was greatly in Canterbury's interest to see the West Coast fully developed. Mr V F. Wright, in supporting the president's wehome. said that he Imped the meeting would help to galvanise Greyniouth into activity. .They wanted some man like Mr Jeffries, brimful of enthusiasm for the Coast, to give a lead to the younger members.

PROVINCIAL POSSIBILITIES Mr. A. 0. Henderson said that Canterbury people did not realise what the West Coast meant to Canterbury in the matter of trade development. Even if tlu> delegates did not come to any agreement, lie hoped that they would take away the feeling that there should he a spirit of co-opera-tion. The Canterbury League, lacking money, could not take in hand the organisation necessary Iwr the development of the West Coast, hut the West Cast could assist by co-opera-tion. Canterbury and tile West Coast possessed the finest portion of New Zealand for the raising up of a hardy race of men .and line animals, and the production of food. No portion of New Zealand compared with the portion represented .by the delegates. The greatest asset of all. far beyond the fertility of soil or'iumeral wealth, was the wealth of sunshine, which was not experienced elsewhere in New Zealand. He was firmly convinced that they should go ahead along the lines followed by the Canterbury League, which was following out the deliberate aims and objects of the pioneers in developing the wealth and prosperity of the province for the betterment of its people. Canterbury wanted the West Coast to co-operate, hut the job had boon only started in Canterbury. If the West Coast would do the same. Canterbury would give all the help in

its .pOW.Cr. „ . Air if. .Alanincr said that "lion 4 1 1 train was running through to tin' Coast tlioro must be. a realisation that the interests, of tiie,.two provinces wore identical. As Britain’s coin in eroinl grcntinjss had boon built on coal and iron, so it, might.,be that the minoral resource of the AVost Coast would build up-,similar.prosperity., . . . ~THE ,()TIIIA TGXN EL.

Atr I), j. Jivnns siiid.that they were grateful to the Government for pushr ing. on with the.Oti.rn,. tunnel. and whether ..passenger trains, were running or not it was gratifying to know that next ■ season the hotter a/I cheese could ho sent through the tunnel. If the, meeting could oiler anv suggestion Hoarding, the handling passenger traflic they would he valuable. He suggested some preparation for the celebration of the opening possibly by the publication of a suitable souvenir, • . .<

Mr W- Jeffries chairman.of the AVestland County Council, said that an important question was: AA'bcn will (Jie tunnel be .completed permanently? ,Tlie AVest Coa.st, lie- said, wanted to .ship cattle, timber, flax .mid, other freight to Lyttelton, which was, destined to. become the port of the, AVest toast. AA’hile the line was unopened, a great loss of revenue occurred. Air James I’attorsn said that at the request of the Innngahua Farmers’ Union he suggested that the line should he available, by December for lambs and jltcep for % Addington markets, . ...Stock and dairy produce were important, , hut - the Iteeftoii people pinned their faith to black diamonds. Reefton coal had been unfair ly treated owing to the fact that inferior 1 , coals .were traded,off to Christchurch, people as Reef ton,, eon 1. AVbeji the tunnel was. open, the price, of Reefton coni to the householder, .would lie £2 10s instead of £.*l 10sas at present. Afr Evans moved;—, -N'vy - ,» -»."j That this meeting approves of the

suggestion to. urge, the most, speedy , opening possible of tiro , Otira tun- j nel, and further suggests that the | organiser he asked to draft a form of celebration to mark the opening, J including the preparation of a sou- 1 vonir booklet to give the historical . record of the coining reunion of Canterbury and Westland. j Mr H. J. Marriner seconded the, motion. ! The Hon .1, Grinnnond contrasted the conditions under which an order for timber could, he given one day and ( delivered tin Christchurch next day i when the tunnel was open, as against the present condition in which tun iei was . put aboard a ship to Commence maybe, a long voyage- half way round the island., i,-t< - ’ __ PAS SENG ERR THROUGH TUNNEL. The Hon. H. L. Michel said that the Government could hardly push on more rapidly., with the opening of the tunnel but thev should not wait for the final completion of the tunnel before a passenger service was launched. 10 present motors should ho sufficient to carry all the passengers for the next twelve or twenty weeks. Last year the coaches had carried nearly 21.000 pnssCn„crs to and from the coast, and he was quite confident that in the first year of the tunnel the passengers would total a quarter of a million. If the tunnel was to be available, for three hours a week for perishable produce it would, he easy to hitch on one or two passenger .carriages, as passengers were more important than butter and choose. The. matter was merely one for arrangement between the Railway and Public Works Department. The permanent way was completed, and the lighting and haulage were ample for the purpose. Air Miqhel, in supporting the motion, remarked that history was repeating itself, for fifty-five or sixty years ago meetings had been held in •Christchurch to plan the wonderful West Coast Road, which had been built in ISOo in less time than it would take-to-day.

Air A. F. Wright commended the suggestion regarding passenger traffic, especially during the holiday season. He said that not one person in a thousand was acquainted with the AVest Coast, and if more people spent their holidays there it might help to stop the northward drift. Even last season, tourists were being turned back from the Franz Josef Glacic-r. The magnificent grandeur of South Westlaud was quite unrealised, and if the AVest Coast would take stops to eater for the traffic it would be very heavy. Air A. G. Henderson said that lie hoped All- Aliehcl’-S figures were correct, hut if 125.000 people were to go through from Canterbury in a year, .the people of Greymoiitli, Tteefton and Hokitika would have to “get busy” to provide accommodation for the enormous flow of tourist traffic that . was destined, for the AA'ost Coast. Westland had scenery which for extent and grandeur was not equalled anywhere in the v m id. As for passenger traffic during the coming summer, he did not think it .would be wise to give the Government any exruse for ensing up in the final completion- of the tunnel AVork-inside the tunnel ought not to he ,delayed, and even a .few hours of traffic a week would entail a .., good many more hours clearing the tunnel.

FREIGHTS THROUGH TUNNEL. Mr 11. J. ,Marriner said that the Chaim.er of Commerce had asked the Government for information regarding freights and although no reply had been received, il seemed to he likely that the freight would he calculated on a mileage basis, without any tunnel rate.

Mr T. AA’. Bruce said that for at least twelve days at Christmas, il not fourteen, as was the case last year, work would hi' susi>ended on the tunnel, slid the Public AA’orks Department might he induced to handle passenger traffic during that fortnight. He predicted that the need for a double line through the timel would vet he felt, lie. thanked the Canterbury T.eaguc for their activities. He luid christened them the “Go getters,” for everything they had set out for they had got. He added that the AA ost Coast had netd of fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables from Canterbury. The AA est Coast was about to become once more a part of Canterbury, as it had always been, ecclesiastically and educationally. He welcomed the suggestion of n pamphlet giving the history of the Otira tunnel, placing on record the names of many good workers for the tunnel who had not lived to see its completion. The organiser (Air P. It. C’limie) reporting on tho temporary service through the tunnel, said that whatever was don,, should not interfere with the permanent work in the tunnel. I hey should rather wait until the work inside was completed. Referring to the name of the tunnel, Afr G'liinio suggested that, in honour of Air A. I). Dobson the tunnel should he known as the Arthur’s Pass tunnel. Mr Evans said that Sir Joseph AAnrd. ill firing the first shot, had officially named the tunnel the Arthur’s Bass tunnel.

Tile motion was carried with the name ni the tunnel altered to Arthur’s Bass tunnel. Mr \A r . .T. Butler moved : That the meeting endorses the references of Afr Henderson to the trade possibilities between the East and AVest Coast, and the league pledges itself to use every endeavour to cement the trading relations of the two provinces to the fullest extent. Afr Butler said that the Hokitika Chamber of Commerce had asked for information ns to freights so that it would he in a position to know whether it would be better to rail goods to Christchurch or send them coastwise. Ho believed that Christchurch timber merchants at present were not sure whether it was worth their while.to hold stocks. Afr Butler ndod that no town showed greater building activity at present than Hokitika. Air J Steer, in seconding tbo motion said that there would be room for both the railway and the port of Greyrnoutli. But- in any ..case the railway would be.of the greatest value to Greymouth.,,He agreed with AH' Henderson that Greymouth was not preparing for tho influx of visitors, but the coming licensing poll bad np unsettling effect. However, .Greymouth could be relied on to rise to the occasion. At Air Henderson’s suggestion, - the motion was enrried in the following., form: j

That tlie meeting expresses the conviction that the opening of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel will greatly enhance the trading possibilities ' between the East and West Coasts, and pledges itself to endeavour to cement the trading relations of the two produces to the fullest extent. HOKITIKA EXHIBITION.

All Jeffries, referring to the northward drift of population, said that he desired to bring under the notice of the whole of New Zealand the opportunities for settlement in AVestland. He moved—

That the meeting of league ilelegatis resolves to take an earnest interest in the proposed diamond Jubilee of AVestland contemplated in 1921, and suggests that the executive if possible, place the services of the organiser at the disposal of the

AVestland committee on conditions to he arranged. Air T. IV. Duff, in seconding the motion , said that it would be necessary to have the support of the Canterbury league not only in regard to the actual exhibition, hut in securing transport concessions and possibly financial assistance from the Government. . The Hon. H. L. Alichel said that,

although Hokitika was a small centre, the success of the exhibition was assured. It would stimulate trade between the East and the West Coast. The motion was very strongly supported by Air Henderson, and carried. TELEPHONE TO COAST. Air A. F. AVriglit moved—- . That this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived when direct telephonic communication between the hast and AVest Coasts should he instituted, and that immediate representations he made to the Government in that respect. He said that the line could he taken through the tunnel. Air Evans said that tile matter had been taken up on AVest Coast, and the Department had anticipated tile opening of the tunnel, and not only was the whole of the east and west telegraphic communication to be reorganised,

.but the .metallic, circuit was to be instituted for a telephone service.

The president said that there wore only three,direct telegraph lines to the Coast, and, although there were telephone linos attached to them, the metallic circuit did not extend beyond Kowai Bush, and the Department did not like to .use them for telephone purposes.

The morion' was carried. NELSON-REEFTON LINE. Mr J. Steer asked leave to move a motion for presentation to the Ministei in Wellington in support of a deputation. as follows:

Thut this meeting of Canterbury. Hokitika Greymoiitli, Rceftou, and endorse the effort of the Nelson delegates in their endeavours to furthei the completion of the .Nclson-Rcclton

railway. Alt Henderson said that the mattci find keen before the executive of the Canterbury League, which had asked for cei lain information from Nelson That information had not been supplied and although memheis individually migli the in favour of the lines, they could not -possibly vote on the matter at present. After some further discussion, during which minor disagreements niosc hc~ tween the visiting delegates regarding tlie work. Air Steer agreed to withdraw his motion, but it was suggested that he should omit any reference to Canterbury delegates, and with this amendment the motion was carried. Tiie Canterbury members did not vote. A BI LLER -MOTION. Mr C. E. Craig moved: That this meeting of representatives of the Canterbury and Bailor Pr-gress Leagues and' of delegates from Hokitika. Greyniouth and Reefton, iesj'ectfully requests the Government to place a substantial sum on the Estimates for the completien of tin Holler Gorge railway, and that .the work he proceeded with at the earliest possible date. Air Henderson seconded the motion, remarking, that the Canterbury League had been consistently in favour of oon-

ecntration on work immediately ahead _ in this ease os far as "Westport.

The president said that the Cnntci'niry League had dismissed the matter md had ai proved oj it. and therefore (inld vote with a clear mind. Tiie motion was carried. it KEETON' RKQt’KSTS.

A motion hy Mr J. Patterson, urging the Government to hasten the completion of the trad to Marcia. was carried without dissent, after, some discussion as to its propriety at such a conference. On Mr W. .1. Morris's motion it was resolved to ask the Government’s favourable consideration for a more liberal policy in. icgard to the development of the i gold mining industry. dir ].). .1, Evans moved a hearty vote of thanks to .the Canterbury League for making.the conference passible and entertaining the delegates. Tie. suggested that the next conference should lie held in the day time, and that members of Parliament should he present.

Mr \V. Jeffries seconded the motion, which was carried with applause, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, completed the conference.