The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, MARCH 6th., 1923. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, MARCH 6th., 1923. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Thf. approaching visit of Air Jenkin, President of the Industrial Association of Canterbury, and his desire to meet West Coast manufacturers in conference, call to mind that the district generally is very backward in secondary industries. The attention to gold-min-ing in the first instance and later to sawntilling. together with the isolation the district bn- suffered from, have contributed to the embargo hitherto placed on manufacturing pursuits. The early convenience of through communication will remove the main drawback and taking a survey of the Coast and its possibilities from now on, we should see secondary industries grow. There are spec;id reasons why this should bf> \

so, for here the rents atid rates, and like overhead charges would be below those of metropolitan centres. If, also electric-power were at the disposal of manufacturers, enterprise woidd he encouraged to launch out. A decision in regard to a supply of light and power by the Power Hoard already set tip must soon he come to. That decision if in tin' affirmative would help to attract manufacturers this way, and on that account from now on serious attention should he turned in the direction of positive action to supply the lower and light for sale. Many manufacturing ventures associated with timber could he undertaken here where there is so much timber available. There is also the quest ion of papermaking a project which has been fully examined already ami declared to be practicable. Then with ri’-.ml to liidcs and leather-making, supplemented bv a boot factory, there are possibilities on the Coast for such a venture. Undertakings of this nature would not only hold the Coast population, but attract j, considerable body of people to the manufacturing centre. It is often the complaint of parents that there are not openings for the rising generation, and they have to leave the district and gn to more populous places in search of employment. Tt would be a fine tiling for the district to see this state of affairs reversed and a stream of people attracted here from the centre. There is thus good inducement for enterprise in the direction indicated. The. railway will afford the facilities to reach the markets of lioth Islands or overseas, and as a. consequence there should not he any occasion for a serious limit of output. Mr .Tonkin's visit,, we hope, will stimulate interest in the possibilities of establishing and extending manufacturing works. Tf tbo existing manufacturers associate themselves with the Canterbury organisation it should be both for their private and public weal, for so fine an association must be of great value industrially. Many tilings are going to come to pass with the opening of the railways. Vll things may not fall out as we may hope or wish. There will bo some surprises. But tbo linking up with the railway system of the Dominion and direct connection with the main shipping ports, must be all for the public good. Individual benefits will depend on Individual effort. The person, company, or town, which is prepared to help itself will be in a fair way to reap a good reward. There are tempting possibilities opening up, and the establishment of secondary industries will open the way to the realisation of greater progress for the district and the establishment of that degree of permanent prosperity nhich it is possible will come to pass in the dawning new era.