The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1929. A MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1929. A MINISTERIAL VISIT.

A ovum has been received by the local bodies I'roin the .Member for Westland (Mr O’Rrien) of the projected visit of the lion .Minister of Mines (Hon IV. A. Yeitcli). The lion, gentleman is not a stranger to Westland, having been associated with other Wanganui people in a mining enterprise in the Totara district. Mr Veitch is also a member of I’arliament of considerable experience. He lias represented the town of Wanganui for several years, being able to account for the strongest opponents brought against him. Mr Veitch entered on his political career as a sane Labour candidate coming from the ranks of the working railways. Ho has never consorted with the Labour-Social-ist party, hut leaned towards the Liberals.. the party which did so much lor the labouring classes in times past. During the late session, Mr Veitch came to the fore very prominently as one of the most active Members in the House associated with the Liberal remnant. and delivered speeches in the pre-election period in various parts advocating a, change of Government. When the change was brought about by circumstances too recent to need recapitulation, Mr Veitch was consider-

ci! at once a certainty for a portfolio, lie was tipped £oll..‘rally lor Railways, hut that Department was passed on to a proved commercial man, and .Mr Ye itch was given Mines and Labour, lie should he very sympathetic in regard to both. Me has the personal knowledge of the mining man, and is specially qualified also in regard to Labour at its proper status—having himself come from the ranks. Mr V’eitch is a. man of the word who has had a. good training in public life, and as one who has made Ids way by grit and perseverance, should prove a leveliieaded Minister, capable of cloifig’ go.,d wora for the country. In the Mines Department there is room and to spare for his activities. A mining revival at the present juncture would he of material aid to the Dominion. From time to time we have indicated -:omo of the shortcomings which account; in the main lor the lassitude affecting the industry. We should say Lliat Mr Voileh with his personal knowledge of the ramifications of gold mining, should he well acquainted with some of the contributing causes of the languor. In the same way regarding coal mining, his knowledge of railway operations should prompt him to further the use of more Xcw Zealand coal on. tin 1 railways, and taper oil’ the importation of outside supplies for the same purposes. Mo could he quite frank without being offensive in stating the facts why the overseas coal had ;o lie brought here, and we should sa\ by this time the labouring sections responsible for the patronage of the ouLide commodity, should lie quite alive as to the cause for the Govenimeiu lotion, and should he quite prepared to five a guarantee that the occasion for such action in the future will he remote indeed. So far as c-oal mining md lab Mir conditions and production are conjoined, Sir Joseph Ward appears to have made a very happy service, in placing Mr Veitch in charge of the two portfolios referred to, and we believe the wisdom will justify itself. !t lias been mentioned that Mr Veitch has a personal knowledge of Westland. A good deal of it lie lias traversed. and on that account he will lie amiliar with local requirements. Whi' he will he concerned mainly with his own departments, matters affectin' other branches of the public service reHiiring attention, should also he brought before him, as the new Ministers will be very busy in oilier directions, and we cannot expect to see naiiv of them here in the short time hey have to prepare for the decisive session ahead of them. The most should therefore lie made of Mr Veitch’s. visit, so as to ventilate local requirements, and have the needs ol 'he district passed on to other members of the Ministry in due course. On that account the fullest use should he made of the f irthcoming visit, and the uost made of the occasion in every way. The visit should therefore lie ’coked forward t > with a useful prospect affecting local requirements.