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Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1924, Page 2

AVtiii.k on the subject of Dominion ndvc’ tising. it. must he confessed that the Coast lias received an excellent advertisement through the Exhibition being held here, and which is to close at tho end of this week. For advertising purposes alone the Exhibition has been worth while and may bo considered as having justified its promotion. Many hundreds of folk have come to AVestland for the first time, and learned something first hand of its resources and possibilities. Many thousands more through the press and from friends have learned about AVestland, and realised that the piercing of the Southern Alps has added a new territory to the railway system of the Smith Island. The effect of this useful advertising will not he readily exhausted. Many travellers are still coming this wav, and no doubt all next month, there will he a rush of purely holiday an 1 tourist traffic. This district as heme: the location for sight-seeing, and the natural scenic wonders which ate so outstanding and impressive will continue to he more largely patronised 1 1 oni now on, and so ail! be achieved one of the chief reasons lor promoting tlie Exhibition venture, namely to atuact interest and attention to the AVestland wonderland.

Tut main liiudiways scheme is not. pio(reding too sinoothilv. It is being opposed in many quarters still. T here is an element of passive resistance, in that some local bodies are refusing to go under tile Act. and decline not only to fix upon main highways, hut also decline to appoint local representatives to the Highways Council. It is in this condition that the headquarters Board is despatching its members to the four quarters of the Dominion to further elucidate the int ricacies of the Act. The main objective Irom tho local bodies viewpoint is one ol finance. It is considered the scheme as it is being developed is too costly, and that in any case the burden thrown upon the local bodies is going to bo abnormal and will break down local body finance. Parliament luis been careful to provide adequate funds for the Highways Board centralised at. Wellington, and it will ly possible for that body to carry on some big schemes, but the Act which piovides these adequate funds, imposes a heavy qmota (tootributiou on the local bodies within the districts of which the works are to he carried out. This is the main cause of the opposition, to the scheme. At the same time there is the feeling that the new order is going to be an expensive process of administration, while some of the n,on well-to-do iocnl bodies object to tl, Govornmest’s interference, and prefer to set their house in order Ihemieives. The Highway Board officials, however will tour the districts, and hope to break down the prejudice, but ft will he more, difficult to overcome the financial problem. So many local bodies are labouring under stringent finance that there is nothing elastic for a progressive road improvement policy. Many bodies are up to their legal limit of overdraft, and have prospective liabilities in sight which restrict activities. In these circumstances much explanatioi is necessary to show members a way out. if full opportunity is to he taken of the much talked of Alain Highways Act.

The A., and I*. Show in progress here just now is worthy of the general support of tlie community, not only in patronage, hut also in practical help with exhibits. This is the first year of direct railway communication with the Fast Coast, and as a consequence the exhibitors from that side are supporting the piojeet very well indeed. The show is tiling held somewhat earlier than usual this year so as to fit in with the Exhibition period. The local entries should be stronger. The district has the reputation for turning out good stock and farm commodities, and a worthy display would be a great advertisement for the place, seeing that on such occasions we shall now have so many outsiders here. The district bays on the lines of those shown at the Kokatahi winter shows are a very useful form of advertisement, and if the various settlements could he brought into friendly rivalry in regard to such a competition, we know of no better means of revealing what our lands and homesteads are capable of producing. The present show will extend over two days, and it should enjoy the fullest patronage. The promoters have well earned all the encouragement which the community can give them in the matter of local support.