The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. JANUARY 27, 1927. AIDS TO PROSPERITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. JANUARY 27, 1927. AIDS TO PROSPERITY.

Tire need for attention to local affairs to stimulate better times must surely lx? recognised. However, it is the custom to drift with the times, leaving it opportunity to present itself with favoring results. Like the country at large, the district in particular may not flourish without some local effort. And at the moment there is the lack of any local enterprise promising to aid such a development as might create more prosperous times. There is the need just now for the Progress League to take up active work in order to

live up to its aims and ambitions. The League might well formulate a local policy, applicable alike to country as to town, and seek to invest the present with a livelier interest for all. The general position of Westland might

well lie examined with a view to sotting aliout some enterprise which would he destined to lift the district ahead. At the moment saw milling is flagging—"hat might be done to cure the ills of the present day? The millers might be consulted in conjunction with tho workers and an effort made to organise action seeking to bring about a revival in the industry. Tho fanners are complaining of the falling prices and reduced incomes—what is the best economic aid to meet the situation ? The position should be examined closely ami something done to throw a light on the possible benefits to accrue from closer or centralised co-operation. In regard to this matter the details of the present situation could he tabulated, and something done .to make the actual facts of the present position better known. Mining is almost a dead letter in the district—cannot something be done to revive an interest Vn prospecting. cither ns a locality enterprise or nationally? Woslhuxl must have immense treasure in its unrecovered mineral wealth, but nothing is done to seek for the treasure which lies hidden. A year or so ago a proposal was put forward for a national prospecting scheme, but it was so much hot air, as it were, the subject was still-oorn. Yet. ii. very practical’ proposal was put forward, and in the interests of mining generally it would he well to have the proposals re-examined with a view at least of local application. There is occasion enough for such in Westland, where experts have realised for so long that the district Ims such promising indications of natural wealth. The three subjects above referred to might serve a very useful year’s work for the Progress League if tho matters were taken up for earnest examination. Unless something to that end is attempted, there does not seem much chance of opportunity happening along on its own account, and creating the, revival all Imped for. Tho district must do something to fend for itself. Other parts of the Coast have prospects—more or less promising., hut they are not blind to the help which will come from a well directed local effort, and so in the several towns, local organisations are busy in the endeavour to keep local affairs prominent arid bring about the degree of prosperity which will ensure general advancement. The effort itself indicates hopefulness and confidence in the future. For that reason self help in this quarter would have its initial value, and by concentrating public interest and public attention on local affairs of general interest, there would he a useful way for the community to spend its energies, ami the effort would have its value in brightening the public mind as to one of the chief duties of citizen ship—to help ourselves