The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1928. OF DISTRICT IMPORTANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1928. OF DISTRICT IMPORTANCE.

It is rather to be regretted as readers would note from Saturday’s issue, that the fortunes of the Westland Agricultural and Pastoral Association are somewhat under a cloud. The Association, in consequence of lack of interest alike on the part of exhibitors and the public, has been marking time. This has not helped the situation. The consequence has been that the Association is not functioning as it should, nor performed its useful purpose for the assistance and promotion of matters in connection with farming and settlement foir the advancement of the district. This state of affairs is a reflection on all concerned, including the absentees from exhibitions and the meetings of the Association. The officers have called meetings to enable the Association to function administratively but there has been a palpable lack of interest, and without a quorum business could not be transacted. Also, the finances have drifted, till there is at present something of a deadlock. There should he no occasion for this is a, centre where hertofore the Association functioned with a good deal of general success in all the circumstances. In an administrative way it was able also to accomplish a good deal for the benefit of settlement, and its- success along those lines should have encouraged those concerned to take a more practical interest in the affairs of the institution. The Association is worthy of a revival of public interest, and if that were brought about it would prosper again. At Kokntahi and'elsewhere, district shows are held at intervals now on quite fsucicessfuil lines. There- is not any question about the quality of the produce coming out of the district. Exhibits can he produced which will do credit to the farmers. At the winter display at Kokatahi the exhibition is altogether creditable, and its effect is to hearten up all concerned as to the potentialities of the place, and visitors are alike surprised as to the capabilities of the district in the matter of production. In the same way by bringing together a district display in the summer season, it should be pos-

sibJe with the co-operation of the settlors to provide a splendid advertisement for the district in the matter of Doth stock and general produce. An organisation such as an A. and P. Association makes a wide appeal, and any public exhibition conducted by such a body invariably receives much public support and patronage. It is the class of exhibition, also, to which outside exhibitors are attracted, and the pitting of the exhibitors of such with those of the district, is always of interest as well as being educative. Such competitions open the way for more readily improving stock and herds, and no matter what the capa-

bilities of a district may be, that improvement is essential always. Such an organisation, too, carries a good deal of Dominion influence. There are robust Associations up and down New Zealand, and they are more or less federated. That alliance enables them to do a good deal for the benefit of pastoral and agricultural pursuits, and any district which is not within the organisation, loses the opportunity of advancing its particular requirements with such influence to aid it. The record of the past might well encourage the settlers of the district to realize what advantages such an association offers, and by unity of action revive the organisation as something of special and peculiar interest to their welfare. Such an opportunity is to present itself next Saturday forenoon, when the settlers are being called together and a definite effort made, to revive the \. and P. Association on lines for the benefit of Westland as a whole. The Association is not by any means deeply in debt. The financial obligations are small compared with the service it can give. The settlers have shown their ability in other ways to carry on organisations of this nature, and with that record there should he every confidence in themselves to lift the Association out of the slodgh of desponcf in which it finds itself, and make it once again a useful active organisation for the benefit of the farmers and settlers of the district.