The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th, 1923. THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th, 1923. THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

The visit of a Minister holding the important- portfolios of Railways, Public Works and Postmaster-General, is of the highest importance to any district, and certainly to a district such as Westland still in the development stage. Mr Coates who is charged with the important offices referred to, is not a stranger to the district, and he has covered sufficient of the territory of Westland to have n fairly comprehensive knowledge of its requirements. At the same time it ,'m> ty k> tea.

lised that Westland is hut part of a whole, and that there are a multitude of claims lolling in from all parts of New Zealand. .Mr Coates has not the funds at his disposal to satisfy till the demands, and on that account we cannot expect him to be very liberal tit this juncture. Westland is invariably mud. est in its requests, and it would satis-' ly trie community here, we are persuaded, it the Minister in the matter of public works would he good enough to authorise for expenditure tho votes passed by Parliament. In regard to mu railway requests they will not involve much expenditure; but theie will be an insistent demand for better regulated services, and the avoidance of the inilolinities and inconvenience which travellers have to put up with in making the journey to and from Christchurch. In regard to postal mat. ters better mail I"i:<-iliti«'-> arc required for the south, and seeing that it is the hack block district now coming to the front and denied railway communtcitiun, something tangible should he granted. Many thousands are proposed to he spent to speed up by a few bonis. English mails. Here hut a few pounds will Ik* necessary to meet requirements and make the settlers ill the haekoloelrs a more contented comm itnil.v. Harking hack to public "oiks, the outstanding work is the Wailai liver bridge. Mr Coates knows the h calily and ha> before expressed himself favorably. He has gone further and placed an additional sum on the appropriations, and the:e was the promise to begin the work this year, ibe year is waning and tlieie is not any sign of the work being commenced. Mr Coates will he expected to give a definite pronouncement on this mailer, and it is to he hoped it will he o. an encouraging nature to the people ol South West,land. Roads to Kuiimta Junction i’ioiii Awatumi. as also to l.akc Mahiimpua. .-lie two very important nft tors to assist- inter-communica-tion between points now ill-served by ■ nil. Tile alternative would l.c to give a better railway service, hut agitation in that direction has boon without result so far. However. Mr (nates will he licic to hear the complaints and can judge of their merits. Much could U said in endorsement of the C-ht istehurch representatives regarding our railway [anilities, and tlnee will he the oppor. Minify to say it all again first hand. Probably the chief merit of the visit will he not so much what may he promise 1 to-day. as the results to accrue later, when the Minister <|igi sts what we believe to he the reasonable demands which aie to he made on helodf of the district. .Mr Coates has a well-established leputalion lor diicet s[ eaikng. and what he may promise, will, in the fullness of time, come to pass. On that a-coiint we hope h" will not fail to display a liberal leaning to our wants.