The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JULY 19, 1926.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JULY 19, 1926.

USEFUL PUBLICITY. There is a considerable amount of publicity coming Westland way of late. It is of a useful character, advertising the district by drawing attention to its reconrces a ml attractions. Much more interest of late is being centred in South Westland, where there is a vast tract of country awaiting material development. The relations between Westland ami Otago are becoming more

cordial, and a baud of interest is growing between the two provinces. I lie matter of a direct route liking South Westland with Central Otago is being taken up with a good deal of actitvty. The Otago Expansion League is specially interested in the work, and is urging the need for the collect ion. Ibe connection involves the extension of the Otago Central railway to the Luggnte, and the necessity for a road over tho Jlaast Pass from Otago to flic est Coast, a distance of 02 miles. ’lbis is a considerable undertaking, hut it has the hacking of an influential hand in Otago, as well as that of the daily press in Dunedin. Constant agitation and references to tho matter is sure to do some good, and we may take it that having turned attention to the matter the Otago people are not likely to abate their interest in so important a provincial matter. Following on this special aid to the promotion of development comes the friendly assistance also of a Wellington weekly newspaper with a large Domnion circulation. In tho intresls of Dominion production and expansion, the manager of the newspaper in question is touring New Zealand to make himself I'ainliar with local conditions and resources. A fortnight or more was spent on the Coast, and a good deal of ground covered in the selfimposed task. The first result is an informative article dealing with road conditions, and in particular emphasising the latent possibilties of South Westland. The article in question is sure to he read widely throughout the Dominion, and will turn the thoughts of many Westland-wards. The district has been descrilied as the Cinderella province, and it is impossile to go into the remote parts without recognising the neglected condition .of affairs. This is sn specially in regard to the southern district where there is a great wealth of Crown estate stored with natural products of great value. From time to time proposals have been put forward to attract attention to the locality, and in particular a very useful scheme was propounded for the reading of the Jackson Bay-Okiiru territory, and following the milling of the timber, the establishment of pastoral settlements. The scheme so far lias not been taken up, but tbe Minister of Funds lias promised to tour tbe Far South during the next recess. In tbe meantime representatives of tho Progress League propose to visit (lie district. and by compiling a special report on the matter, will assist further to draw increased attention and publicity to a remote part of Westland. There is a further promise .still on the part of the liewsly-appointcd Minister of Public Works as soon as he could get time after the session to tour the South Island, and the trip will include an exploration of the Hnast Pass route tor roading purposes. All this will he very useful publicity and will he an aid to assist the province to come into its own in the matter of reasonable development. Regarding the enormous amount of borrowed money which lias come into the Dominion of late years, Westland’s share in public works lias been very small indeed, and in. view of the great area of Crown territory waiting access and development, there is certainly plenty of room to expend money to marked advantage in improving the Crown estate within Westland.