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Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1923, Page 2

Wk.sti.ani> is obtaining of date a lair share of valuable advertising at the bands of the metropolitan newspapers. That long-delayed coming event, the opening of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel, is easting its shadow before, and the district is being explored in advance by those anxious to lealise its pitontiaiitics. Westland promises t" come into its own with the opening i f the railway, for the district is now being extolled from independent sources, all of which will carry a good deal of conviction to the average reader of the daily newspaper in the four main centres, where writers have been supplying matter of general interest and special import to the local press. This late discovery of Westland so to call it, is of interest and is an example of the practical value of the railway communication so long sought and yet so long deferred. It is not at all clear when the line will be in operation even yet. There P still a delay in focussing the completion of the works, and various dates are still being hazarded ns to the probable opening time. A period as remote as November has Ireeii mentioned in one quarter, hut that seems ;o be altogether unreasonable. The uncertainty of the opening date suggests that the closest local interest on both sides of the range should be centred on the opening of the through -railway and everything possible in the way of reasonable agitation should be carried on to secure an early realisation of the hopes so long deferred. At the

same time, it has to he conceded that the (lovernn'ent has stuck to the task fan in the free of much negative cp-

position from other parts of the Do- |J minion. Meantime evidence has been 1 accumulating of the value the line is going to Ik-. The overland traffic is already substantial and there are signs : it will grow greater with through facilities for railway traffic. The impressions of those who have beeen spying I c,ut the land are all Tory favorable, and their published views must attract a larger army still of visitors. AA’estj land is capable of being made an all j the year round resort for holiday makers and there need lie no set season for the tourist on the Coast. Tais is j now being more? generally realised, and 1 the publicity the district is receiving is proof that Westland will stand in , greater favor still once through rail- ! wa.v traffic- i» assured. j T in: Rritish a ttitude in respect to Iho ‘ j preservation of the sites for the G. Hi-I j puli graves towards the Turkish demand!-: for occupation, will la genr-ra.ily ; supp.irlcel throughout the Empire, and in j art i.-ular in Australia and New : Zealand Gallipoli was the scene 4 of the baptism of lire which the colonial troops had to face when lirst parlirijviiiiig in the Great War. The story ol' the Au/.no lauding and the- tenacious ' lighting which followed is an.epic. The .statesmen of Australia and New Zealand should los" no time in supporting; l/o cl Curxou, so that tie- > xpression of ' 111 c. r: 11 a puree ia i ion of the liritish demands will strengthen the hands of the . Cabinet at Home in standing to ilia request Britain purpose's to on force, if l I’.re-d lie. To- i:i:-1 telegram indicates 1 ill;; t th- Turk- e'liholdeni.d by the I weakness of tin .Allies in tile past, ran - achieve tlr ir d-siris 1.-y standing, out j t-i tin- limit of war. It is uulort iinate

that, ulull the Turks pursued siniilai j ta.-ti.s before, the tlien i’rime Minister was lint :i-li-!|uatc'ly siinpuMeil by thnation in the rc-cilute aetion lie was prepared to take. The ’l urks ale now : taking advantage of tin- tvinkm -s thus displayed, a-icl arc hoping tint the I more Ihought- of war will ct t-■; the 111 r j tidi. ami ensure 4 tie latter giving way oil peart- terms. The lurks are alj templing the high bond, ami are ,-.eking to show the! ihe sa-.-rc cl territory to'll;:* IJriti h is nnlv desired to he ie-id for the p-irpiis:- of being turned into sfrri'. gie leases m i!.-- I'mure! j This s’ateincni is an iii-ell In liritish i honor, and Lord Curzoii might well i I,- plain si>i)keii on tin- lustier. I lie j epic stion is one e.f suc h importance to tin- overseas c -uintries which have thendead interred on Gallipoli, that the strong!'-'! lorra of support should bo manifest-d imm both Au tralia and New Zealand so that the Turks in particular will realise the eaTile-tin-- ol th" young nations in the matter.