The Guardian SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1929.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1929, Page 4

The Guardian SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1929.

OPENING SOUTH WESTLAND’ The deputation to Wellington this week has done good work in drawing attention to the advantages of opening up the far south territory for settlement. Placing more people on the land is one of the chief planks in the policy of the Government, so that it is a suitable time to bring to the notice of Ministers some of the out of tlie way attractions of their own Crown estate as a means to the end in view. The Government when it looks round to purchase land for settlement, usually ends by purchasing freehold areas at a very high price. These when roadoil and surveyed, generally entail a high annual rental, and the upshot is that the struggling tenants suffer hardships in the effort to make a success of their undertaking. Out of the way places have disabilities and many are reluctant to venture into them. On

that account such propositions arc often looked at askance. Rut when mere arc means of communication the scene soon changes. There are portions of South \\estland which a very lew years ago were not in high favour. Vet sett.ers held on and had their reward. They held cheap land, but that meant only less overhead expenses, and as markets were opened up and came within range the settlers derived the benefit. As [lie Great South Road is being pushed on that transformation will be also going 011, and settlers will steadily improve their circumstances—as they deserve to do. The Okuru to Jackson Ray roading proposition is something apart from the Great South Road to be extended from Cook’s River south. The far south is an isolated settlement beyond the scope of the road referred to,‘and it will he a considerable time in any case before tnat link in the national roading system can reach within cooce of Okuru. Rut the Okuru-JaeKson Bay district presents a unique case for special consideration. It is as we have said, isolated; but it is self-contained and has harbour possibilities second to none of any other Westland territory. During the past forty or fifty years, or so, it has existed as a cattle grazing country, handicapped as it has been by the long drive to market. But with all the drawbacks, plucky settlers have held on and performed the real work of genuine pioneers in so-doing. Two or three years ago Nolan Bros, of Okuru, set out to demonstrate the possibilities of the territory for dairying. Olieese was regarded as the most suitable commodity for export by the irregular boat service, and despite no end of drawbacks and difficulties, a remarkable success has been made. A first-class commodity has been produced and finds a ready market all the year round. The demonstration made suggests what could be done with other areas by closer settlement, means of occess to the port at Jackson Bay, and facilities for regular, shipment, tlere, then, is an ideal location for a settlement scheme. The guarantee of roadng will be the first incentive, and next will be required the wharf accommodation for regular shipments of dairying and pastoral products. That, however, is only one aspect of the land values. The country' carries a great wealth of forest country, which even now might have been under development were it not for the stupid policy of the Forest Service which has locked the country' up against private enterprise. If that ban were not in existence ample capital was offering a few years ago to develop the timber trade and so create an industry which in itself would have opened the port, and lead at once to a great bound of prosperity' for the district. The deputation now in ’ Wellington made a very strong case in demanding the roading of the country. No better plea can be made than from the settlers themselves who have spent their lives in the district, and know its potentialities frtm every point of view. Anything they have to say must carry' a great deal of conviction, for first hand, they are able to tejl the Prime Minister and his colleagues exactly’ how they are placed. South Westland is a very large tract of country, and not one third of it is occupied and used as it might he. If the other two thirds of the' territory were in closer occupation what a tremendous impetus there would he given to the production possibilities of the province. Surely it is worth while expending the fullest effort in bringing the latent resources of the district before the notice of those concerned, and th public spirited deputation which now has the matter in hand deserves the thanks of the community for its efforts.