The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, DEC. 4th, 1923. WANTING IN DISCRETION.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, DEC. 4th, 1923. WANTING IN DISCRETION.

j Tin; Chairman of tin* Gre.vnioutii HarI Bor Boaid (Mr .Jesse Steer) is one of j those in the northern town with a I “set” against cheap or cheaper freights j on the .Midland railway east to west. I .Mr Steer is fearful that tin* com pet 1- ■ tion with the sea-borne traffic will afI feet seriously the fortunes of the Hoard I he presides over. To the extent this . is likely to he so in his mind he has indicated in a recent press interview, j He then gave expression to views of j unqualified opposition fo cheaper freights, solely to save the precious I port of Grey. “As a member of the I Harbour Board,” he said, “it- is my duty to see that nothing shall affect the [ port detrimentally, if it is in the power of my colleagues and myself to prevent it. I could not support the back-loading rates fixed on such a basis. The port is of more importance to the town of G rev mouth than the railway, and any loss made on the port must he made up hy increased rates.” Until the last link was forged i'll the East and West Coast railway, and through transport was possible, “the railway” was in point of fact; of the utmost importance to the town of Greymouth. The town flourished exceedingly because of the trade and traffic resulting from the railway works. Gre.vmouth citizens • were prepared to take nil they could get during the long drawn out period of construction, hut now it is realised that the railway is to be a drain rather than a gain to the “town of Greymouth.” But the railway was not built for the “towns.” It was built for the 1 district as a whole, and looking to the greatest good for the greatest number, there has never I‘oen an event of greater importance, governing the permanent future-of the Coast, than the linking up of this side of the Island with the South Island lailwny system. And that happy event : having come to pass, it is for the people to see, after the long years of isolation amt attendant backwardness, to get the most out of the new oonnec- , - tion so ss to. recoup the penalties of the past, and build quicker for the future. I

Cheaper freights always help development, and even the ‘-town of (Keymouth” will enjoy much rellected advantage from the developments which will go forward in the surrounding cuuutiy arising from the improved liM.-aius ol* communication and resultant. cheaper freights. Air Steer and those blindly associated with, him, miss this point. And there is another point <■ f view on which his vision is defective, aiul even hi.s memory dulled. A year ago, Air .Steer was stumping Westland, extolling the Greymouth Harbor Board and its resources, and telling Hokitika and other audiences that there was no fear of taxation for the maintenance of the. Grey Harbor. He talked in a different key to a piess reporter last week, when he replied to a question on the attitude of the Hokitika people on the subject of cheaper freights. His reply was that the stand taken in Hokitika on the subject was fill tiler evidence of the deep-seated parochialism, and dislike of anything Gieynioutli which distinguished many residents of the southern town. The efforts of the Westland County Council, to secure exemption from the Greymouth Harbour Hoard’s rating areas were touched on. ana" Tor Steer pointed out that although the Bonn! possessed tho power to impose raL.s on the Westland County, it Would not do so unless the iiiiaiiciai position demanded it through levonue becoming insufficient. “With this possibility in ' ie.v, it is very poor policy for Hokitika to assist tlio tunnel to Iho detriment of t.lu. port,” said Mr Stem, “for Hokitika must assist in the making up ot any loss in the working of the liarhour.” This was not discreet on Air Steer’s part and it display» also his inconsistency as between his 1022 and 11)23 statements. Air Steer is very unfair also in at.fi Minting “parochialism” as the motive of the stand taken l>,v Hokitika opinion. AH riirnugh the agitation for the eomplotinn of the railway and ii is not Do milch to say that

til,, i.er'.e o nl re for the agitation on the (\,a-L w; s reiitied ill Hokitika--the plain tea so 11 advanced was to seek cheaper and more certain means ol communication. Railways in competition with shipping must bring down fi eight.--; and a railway pitted against a liar harbor must give a sine means of usidy connection. That was the altitude of Hokitika, all tluough the la-t 20 vears of sustained agitation for the finishing o-f the line, and for Mr Steer to twist- the jo-ition a« he lias done li. the quotation given is to disclose an indiscretion savouring <>f distinct untaii ness.