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Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1924, Page 2

Tiik sawmillers who are depositing sawdust in the rivers are finding themselves in a dillieult. position because the Government' regulations which prohibit the practice are now being enforced. The deposit of sawdust in local streams has been in practice over many years. At long drawn out. intervals informations have been laid against offenders, hut the tines were not heavy and (lie majesty of the law being asserted for the time being went again into hybernation. Recently. however, there was the threat of

nioro active measures to suppress the practice, and a test ease was taken in which the judgment indicated that after the end uf the year, the prohibition of the practice would he enforced more rignrotsly. This has had the effect of bestirring the offenders and on their behalf an appeal was made last week to the principal local body asking for intervention. It appears there are u; wards of a dozen cawmills, the sawdust from which finds its wav into the Hokitika river. The i entention is that if the practice of depositing the sawdust is prohihted the mills will he in a difficult way. and some will have to (lose down. Xu doubt over two hundred employees are involved, and the late of the industry if.self is in jeopardy. On the other side of the balance is the late of lisli in the rivers. lm|>orted trout are said to he in danger of extinction, while the whitebait season is liable, also to serious injury, because of the ill-effects from the sawdust. The local Ikmlv weighing all the facts resolved to stand by the timber industry, and decided to ask the Government to al>rogate the prohibitory regulations s< far as the Hokitika rivet is lonccrnetl. The position in regard to other streams is not involved at present, hut latur that aspect might have to he considered also. The County Council’s action was no doubt one of expcdiency. and on the whole will Is -1 supported. It is a moot point, of cmi-s what harmful effects the sawdust has on the fishing, hut there can ho no doubt if the timber industry is more seriously menaced at this stage. the result on local employment and production would lie rather serious. In all the circumstances the ai t.iott ‘ f the local I>odv appears to bo on the Tight lines from the public point et view. Tut: district is receiving a certain «mount of publicity through tho action of private <«iterpriso at present. Something has been made public already about the booklet which the Progress League is issuing. Some good photographic work is being produced

just now of views about the district, and the local boMios are assisting with the display of these. Some animated views of the scenic legions a»e being taken also just now bv private enterprise. Vet with all these efforts the Government Department remains passive. Various promises were made from that quarter as to help to be alforded, but the assistance is not forthcoming. While tho iC'oast is being, left largely to i»s own devices to advertise itself. C.ie GoVernment in granting a eon.sideraible amount, of money to boom the Cold Lakes district. This following what lias been clone for the North Island resorts, makes it more pointed than ever that the Coast is being excluded from Government favors. Seeing that the .Minister in Charge ot Tourist "Resorts paid a visit to the district not so long ago. makes the josition the more remarkable still. The visit was alme.sl an unofficial one. certainly unannounced and tlie local bodies were not ioqiiainted vs.it Ji the Ministers movements. IVrlmp* this was another way of ignoring Westland. However, local enterprise is oiklc.nvoi ing to make good where Govri niftent cHiicvrn is at a low ebl). and we call but hope that virtue

ill due course may receive its reward. 1C very traveller "bo passes this way lias the- same iniprc.-.sron.s of a trip 'through beautiful Westland, so that it is quite worth while for the people to persist in their task of advertising tin; district abroad. Their efforts "ill continue to be of effect, and we have no doubt that, in the coming season the flow of holiday traffic; Coastwards will be a. pleasant surprise to all court*rued. What is being done in the wiit ot advertising is going to I,ring in its return, and that will be confirmed very shortly now "hen tlu* new season's traffic* begins. Westland with the travelling public* is going to be liiotv popular than ever.