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Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1923, Page 2

In Hie report of Mr Cliniio's remarks before the Progress League published yesterday, we weio sorry to see thoie was not something more definite about the opening of the Arthur's Pass tun- : net. Tt is regrettable that with the prospective completion in April, nothing can be said officially on the point to satisfy the public desire for definite information. Perhaps it is that the high officials of the Departments interested are not giving enough ' personal attention to the magnum ' opus. Possibly other works elsewhere a,re taking up their time, hut there are none of greater national importance—in both cost, and public utility--calling for attention. The holiday volume of traffic indicated to what extent the line ! was likely to he utilised, and as the works are in the meantime “eating their head olT” in interest charges, it seems to the layman of the highest . importance that the tunnel should he ( revenue earning at the earliest possible ' hour. In other words, the tunnel works are, to our mind, at that stage i now when the Department- affected ; might concentrate on bringing them into practical utility without a moment's loss of time. They are at that stage when work should be pushed : ahead night and day so that the conn- : try will get- the benefit of a service it is hungering for a service which will add enormously to the prosperity of a large section of the Dominion. The 'T.oaguo meeting favored a monthly requisition to the Minister as to an official date for the opening. \Yo think the Progress League in Christchurch and the branch here could" afford to make itself a public nuisance to the Minister by at least a weekly application—indeed there should be a concentration of effort not only by the League but also bv local bodies and members of Parliament and the whole Ministry should he bombarded in tine effort to wake some one in authority to Jo the right thing fop tj)p economic good of (hr 1 lY'MnPy.

Its an oft-told tale, the neglect by the Tourist Department of the scenic resources of Westland. Meagre as Ins been the support from that quarter in the past, much of the help ha* of late boon withdrawn, including even the cancellation of votes of money actually appropriated by Parliament. ’!<> add injustice to injury the Department itself ignores tin* district, and neither Minister nor Tourist officer comes this way. The scenic beauties of Westland are not a new Hind. In days gone by the Department recognised the district for its wealth of natural wonders, but for far too long of late years, the Department has been altogether indifferent to the development of local resources as a means to iuteiest the public, and to afford visitors from other parts of N'cw Zealand something different from what may be seen in other pm lions of the Dominion. Visitors who find their way to the Coast do so on very meagre information so far as local knowledge can be gleaned from the Tourist Department, and in this respect Wesiland has been penalised far too often. Yoi travellers who come hero siglTt-secing, depart singing the praises of the distiiet. and regret they did not know more about it in advance so that they might hate arranged their holiday differently. It is for the people to set about helping- themselves again. Thy have done so in the past, and in this year of opportunity it will pay them to do so for the future. Thnnkr to the generous help of the Canterbury Progress League, a simple proposition for the issue of a useful booklet to help advertise the district has been put forward, and the offer should he readily seized upon, and carried into effect "Ith the least possible delay, ]t is ail occasion to help ourselves which should not be missed, and we hope will prove a stepping stone to greater things in the very Hear future.