TRADE THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1923, Page 1

TRADE THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

(Tuesday’s Christchurch “Press.") “Simultaneously with the opening of “the tunnel,” a "Press” representative was told on Saturday, “the town “of Keefton took a derided turn for “the hotter.” This we have* always foreseen and foretold. Not only Keelton. where gold added to coal makes a hoom certain, but every town and township over the mountains will now revive. The question is, will Cliristi hureli help forward the revival or stand and wait till Wellington {jive; up-' We hope the Industrial Association will regard the Hokitika Exhibition as second in importance only to the very fine eli'ort the Association made in ("hri-.it him h a year earlier. It is gratifying to note that the Department of industries and Commerce is already preparing itineraries for the vistors, hut its the opening day is only Jour months distant, it is time also that our business firms began to consider finally how much tin's opportunity is worth to them. What a trader told our special reporter in Grevmouth is of course a fact—“the itlca. that the tunnel is not “going to make much difference to "Wellington is all moonshine” : but there is danger in the very obviousness of our advantages. Wellington knows that the tables are now turned against it, and will fight to readjust them: Christchurch may very easily suppose that geography settles all. In the long run, no douht, it does, but in the meantime wo must realise that if the tunnel opens a door to West Coast coal and timber it does the same for Canterbury merchandise, and Canterbury men. ‘ It is particularly important that Christchurch merchants should begin now seeing the Coast for themselves—discovering what it can do for them and what it wants them to do for it. And among the matters that must ljo attended to on this side are the tunnel rates. While it was recognised that they would be troublesome for a time, we must see to it, as the Greymouth merchant urged in our commercial columns yesterday, “Unit ex“orbitant tunnel rates are not allowed “to deprive Christchurch of the busi-•'•tu-ss of the Coast.” On some classes of goods the tunnel levies no disturbing toli, Imt on groceries, and other merchandise in tlie same schedule, its present rate is a serious interference with the natural course of trade. Instead of just assuming that all these things will come right in time, Christchurch must speed the clock.