The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1928. WESTLAND NEEDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1928. WESTLAND NEEDS.

Tub fact Unit Westland needs are tar from satisfied was emphasised very emphatically in the list of subjects drawn up at the meeting of the Progress League this week. The oft quoted remark of Cecil Rhodes applies with special force—“So little done so much to do.” This has peculiar application ill regard to the development of local tourist resorts. While successive Governments have been prodigal in regard to expenditure in Dominion tourists resorts W estland lias been tin 1 veritable Cinderella of the provinces. Lavish expenditure has gone on at Rotorua Waitomo, Egmont, Hninnon. the Hermitage, the Cold Lakes, to mention only a few localities, while even modest expenditure here is vetoed. Now £IO,OOO at a modest estimate is to he spent in providing accommodation at Milford Sound. At other places the Government has spent many thousands of pounds in providing accommodation, hut in Westland, whether at Lake Kanieri, Waiho Gorge or Wehekn. it is left to private enterprise to find the thousands, and to the credit of a progressve people the money has been found. The statement that for the current financial year only some £.-,60 lias been set down for Westland out of a total vote of £91.924 carries conviction on the face of it that the district is sadly neglected by the Tourist Department. On that account it is well to call on the Manager of the Tourist Department who is to visit Hokitika shortly to formulate some scheme whereby Westland can be brought more into the picture dealing with Government aid to the development of tourist resorts. An interesting catalogue of routes to lve opened up has been mentioned. Xo doubt tbo list could be added to considerably, but enough is shown in easy juxtaposition to nlueli travelled routes, to justify attention by tbo Department along tbe lines suggested. For a moderate expenditure year by year a great deal of general improvement can lie done, and it is only reasonable to ask for tbe attention. As this class of expenditure is going on uninterruptedly in other parts of the Dominion, local interests will continue to l>e neglected if the attention is not pressed for. Much tbe same remark applies to tlie subject of public works necessary on the Coast and in Westland. to be brought up at the annual conference of Progress Leagues to be held in Westport in about six weeks’ time In this locality in particular, public works expenditure on national works has l>een restricted of late. Merely confined to roads and bridges serving independent localities, the effect of the expenditure has not been so general. Tbe time is opportune, therefore, to urge attention to work of a national character so that in keeping with other parts of the Dominion there will be a degree of common prosperity affecting all parts alike. Railway and harbor works such as have been mentioned are of tbe type of national un-

dertakings the district is entitled to share in. The wealth ol produce coming out of South Westland gives support to the demands tor improved communication by road, rail and sea, and the demands should he pressed home. VP hat is being done in the tar south also justifies the request for the improvement ol the 1 least Pass route. O'uiru should have better road connection with Otago and as the Haast mute is so easy of access improvements in that quarter are worth demanding. The district has been easy going of late in regard to public expenditure. H seeme'd to ho satisfied with what lmd been done when Arthur's Pass tunnel was achieved. But there is no occasion to rest on past achievements. Greater progress is promising in Westland under improved conditions, and | there are many ways by which that j result may he brought to pass. It is , to 1)0 hoped the present move of the Progress League will stimulate public interest in the public wellare. and that there will he a united effort towards the goal which the present dc-' mauds aim at. Tt is work in which all can join and the greater and 'wider the support, the more the League will ho-encouraged to carry on its selfimposed task.