FUTURE OF WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1924, Page 3

FUTURE OF WESTLAND.

IMPRESSIONS OK YiSJ'IORS. WELLINGTON IU'SINKSS MEN'S Ton:. (Lyttelton Times.) The impressions gained by a party ot business men from Wellington on a two weeks' tour ol the West Coast were t list l Westland has gieat possibilities and that its lirst need is capital and labour to develop pastoral lands. Tiie paily which made l lie trip was: Mi X. Elmslio. .British Trade tommesioiier, .Mr J. Myers, chairman ot the Wellington i haniber of Commerce. Air A Leigh 11 11 it I. rlriiriM.'Hi of tin- Empire Trade and Foreign Commit rce ol the Chamber, Mr A. E. Bn melt, secretary of I'm Wellington Harbour Beard. All P. Levy, i lei. man if tlm t'oiin.il .■I Victoria College, ami .Mr V\ . J Gaiidin. a member of the Wellington ('it\ Cotin: il. They were accompanied by Sir Alexander Muthc-mi. New Zealand icpreseiilative ol the ".Morning Post,” London. The tour was made vi- Nvison. L'i:m whore tlie party motored to various jaitu of Westland, covering 7! » miles hy car. At Hokitika they were iubmd l.iv Mr 51. A. M right Mayor of Wellington. The objects ol the il ip were to ctlitivale closer-trade relations with the West Coast and to investigate its capabilities and imdeveloj ed resell fees, at the same time enjoying a certain amount (il holiday. "There are emnmoiis posisLililms in both mining and agriculture,” stated All J-; 1u i •-1 it-, in the course ol an interview. “I had no idea of the amount of land available for agriculture, or o! tlm quality of the | astuiv. From Ihe scenic point of view it is absolutely 1 1 1 ,itHi;•: no country hits anything like the combination as seen on the Ciast. It is a country that ought loTio woilb millions a year to New Zealand in toiir-i-i traflie, hut prej aratioti.s will have in he made for it. As yet there is neither transport nor accommodation that will meet, with the approval of the wealthy tourist. The accommodation is excellent of its kind, and for tin purpose for whan it was designed, but it is not the kind that the luxuryloving tourist will approve of. Tito population is now 30,000, hut it ought In he nearer 1,000,1)00. Capital and population are needed.” ATr Elmslio concluded by expressing appreciation of

i'.e gene!tins hospitality which he had experienced during the tour. One urgent need oil the ('nasi in the oponion of Mr A. Leigh Hunt (who took a keen interest in the agricultural side) is a comprehensive scheme of drainage, either by driinagc boards or private development companies. He is (,; opinion that the land should ho dealt with in large areas, as a much more economical rod eflective method limn the effol I.- of individual fanners, ami preferably the work should he undertaken In bilge i .on |a n ii's u-ing Rlili-.li capital. The objects of these companies would l-e llm breaking-in or land for -eltlomonl. and their operations. pc suggests. could lo. 1 worko; ju with the inllux of immigration. 'faking everything into consideration >j Hunt "a.- of opinion that land or. tin West boast would he a much better proposition for the buyer than many oi the North Island offerings. r l hero v i re not many disabilities peculiar to tin 1 Coast; though there "it- a 1 or ' lam amount of isolation this would cme ill oil. One of the most important ne-

cessities was tt cheap supply of lime am' as there were deposits locally thou 1 '■.as „o reason why it should not bp

• nailable at a price as low as auywhme N,. v . Zealand. The lest of the laud i- largely in liver Hats, but .Mr Hunt urged caution against indiscriminate clearing of the bush from the hills, 1.-st these tints go out to sea. The i lea of clearing, some of the hills, he said, was unthinkable and in conned ion with the Heating of lands generally there should he a demarcation so that the bush, suitable for timber would he ienioveil and the growing trees led. There vn.s no (ju<‘->in>n nln'iit the tim!’.?r; it was mndir.iu-eni. The patty was very pleased with the advance of co-opera live mining, m wiiieh 300 men are now engaged. There are eight co-operative parties, consisting of E2O men at Seddonville tdone. Tim system is licit!ishing ami it is hoped it will be produetive of a let ol ’Pti Sit Alexander Mathesnn this was one of the most interesting aspects oi West Coast industry. Sir Alexander -aid that lie "as impressed . with the development of co-operative mining, and t!:o facilities givon to the men to cnir> on the work. Also lie associated liim- . |f with other members of the party it- their expressions of appreciation of the hospitality met with. "With reference to transport Mr Hunt stated it was the intention of the party ~, endeavour to arrange for a regular s(earner service to the Coast,