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Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1924, Page 2

Wr.STt.ANi> is at a period now which marks the beginning ef a new era. The ehanged conditions brought about 1,, the establishment of railway communication east and west marks quite a new epoch, and there is the need for a u.-w beginning as it were. The Exhibition lias demonstrated that the people •ire not without enterprise and imagination. The folk have shown that they have the ability to organise and the confidence to undertake tasks ot some magnitude. The district hv reason ol tlie Exhibition is receiving an advertisement of wide distribution. Naturally of the thousands passing through Du Exhibition many of them come from fat distamos, and :t seems to he accepted that all iue carrying away a gieat opinion of the Exhibition itselb mid a lirst. class impression of the district as a whole. Those of the visitors who have tiavelicd further afield and seen something of the possibilities Of land settlement ill We-tlaiuf under a closer system, realise that the district has incomparable advantages to It. credit. The fields are green always here, and pastoral pul suits under a mure inton.-ixo form of farming must !,.■ remunerative. The land will respond to the right treatment, and with well selected herds or flocks (he profit from dairying or sheep-fanning is ascured. That is bn! one phase of the potentialities of Westland. It has outl"ts also in regard to industrial development in regard to both mineral,s and timber, and other native products. Its future as a tourist resort is not realised vet—either by the people and least of all by the Government, whose Depart men t in paiticular neglects absolutely the development of the natural tourist resorts ot this western wonderland. The latent possibilities of the district possess many elements which mm be handled successfully in the new beginning in regard to development which now might be undertaken ruder altered circumstances which ensure success. By linking up Westland with the East Coast, an assured market is taliped, and there is a certainty of a .stable means of inter-eonumtnieation. The isolation of the old days has been tlie bugbear of the past, that has disappeared. and a new order is being brought in. Let the, community be up and doing and reap the advantage ol the ehanged conditions immediately.

I’ftnsriNt; the lino of thought just expressed recalls tho American saying thni folk should net wait for their ship to mm*' in - they should row out to meet it. So ootv with the now era opening, and prosperous times presenting themselves, ihe community should be up and doing in an earnest endeavour to promote tho period of hotter conditions offering. The Exhibition lias attracted many people to the Const. U will l.e a disappointment if many of the visitors do not sec opportunities worth remaining fur, or coining hack ti sec again, l’nrticuhirly would wo like to see the settled population of the distiict increased. There is plenty of good fallow land idle year alter year lot the want of enterprise or money to cultivate i'.. If many of tile larger artas could be cut up into smaller I anus it would bo a good thing. It would he a help, too, if more of the swamp i.'-nds were brought into profit. Tilt-- would he cheaper .than clearing heavy Hush land, and tho soil itself would be richer and mole lesponsive to proper treatment. More people one the land of Westland is what is required. and efforts in the direction of bringing that about would he well timed now. They might he individual efforts—which would lie the best of all—for it would be best to see the large holdings cut up voluntarily. An effort might Ire made by the State ; Iso. through the Land Board, to see more land rendered available. The Land Board might help particularly in legat'd t.; dealing with the swamp lauds. It would not be too much to ask the Government to do the necessary surveys in regard to levels etc., so as to eii.sute effective results. This is not asking a great deal; not askflig for more than ti e reading of other lands. Surveys are costly if 'eft. to the individual who in any case could not carry out a comprehensive scheme. But the Government- could propound a scheme and lay it off, and there leave it- to the good sense and courage of the people to put it thiough. This land development and settlement, would be one of tlw. stepping stones to greater district advancement, and it is a matter which should be taken up enthusiastically and pushed through as a great aid to pro- j viucial development and expansion.