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Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1926, Page 2

Tiiehk is much preaching of late on the dispositon of New Zealanders to follow a life of pleasure. So far as can lie gleaned the excess along the lines indicated is not alarming necessarily. The complaints made come chiefly from tlie city where there is more scope for excess. Hut the very’ fact of the outdoor life it is possibv to lead in New Zealand gives more color to the charge which perhaps deceives. One of the best guarantees of the morality of New Zealanders is the orderliness of its crowds. Where crowds do congregate in outdoor recreation there is much order and discipline apparent that it is difficult to believe there is a strain of evil abroad. Naturally in cities with tl>3 bright, lights and glamour of speedy movement, there are those who become carried away. It is the penalty of environment that those from quiet quarters find themselves carried a wav in a. sense by the new atmosphere in which they find themselves, but those who are impressionable in that direction are a small percentage, of the country, ft is a fact that- the aftermath of the war lias left its trail upon the nation—all nations. The strain and stress of that trying period was unsettling, and the. reaction has had its effect. Hut oven his phase has its limitations, and however the cause of the trouble may be regarded, llvero is at least comfort in Iho feeling that the cases calling for reproach are more local than general. The mu i'll fact remains that New Zealand folk bare proved their loyally when the call came. Service they were ready to perform when ilicre was the need. The spread of education is having its effect on the moral sense of the individual whose capacity is brought lo earlier realisation than in the days of yore. l’erlm|s it is this advancement which is the cause of disconcerting some folk, lint a reasoned view of the outlook .wins io remove all causo for alarm, and to suggest faith in our own people and ourselves

Ai.thouoh direct, publicity for Westland at the Kxhibil ion at Dunedin is said to he lacking sadly, and visitors from tbs C'oavt to the great display are prone to remark upon the omission, there is yet a good deal of indirect publicity afforded by pictures and pamphlets dealing with the attractions of Westland, in (particular and the Coast in general. The failure of the Coast* to be directly represented at tbc exhibition is an opportunity' of its kind lost, which will not return for many years. The vast attendance being recorded is evidence of what is possible in spreading far and wide information as to the atlructions, tourist and otherwise of the district. Folk have come from far and wide. Never before lias there been sucli an invasion of the South Island, and events are not likely to fall out again in a similar way which would afford such a. splendid advertising medium as the great show at Dunedin. And It is remarkable how little is known of the geography of New Zealand, by folks residing in other parts of it. The Coast suffers particularly in. that respect. The Coast K regarded as a. general rule as a centre ill which all places are associated closely. Far away folk seem to know a. good deal about the record for rain in those parts, hilt little, or nothing of our bright sunshine, and above all of Iho natural resources of the place. There" is need for some continuous advertising of the qualities of the place, if Westland hopes to keep pace with tin'" progress of other parts. It. is a mistake to leave the advertising of the district to chance. That means an omission of duty, which neflocts itself seriously a.s affecting the future, Public men who pride themselves on discharging their official duties should look up and out of a. restricted environment, if they wish to forgo the district ahead in the common race in which other parts of the Dominion are keenly contesting.