The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West. Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1929. UNDEVELOPED ASSETS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West. Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1929. UNDEVELOPED ASSETS.

• ■Ueiie was an interesting debate at the County Council meeting on Tuesday in respect to Mr Donovan’s motion seeking Government aid to improve the harbour at Okarito. Both the mover and the seconder (Mr Murdoch) spoke at length and were cordially supported by the Chairman (Mr Ward; in urging the merits of the ease. This Coast has but few harbours, and- it was stated on good authority that O.varito possessed me natural' features to‘ensure a harbour, this being one of the best on tii Coast. Although the glory of the town of Okarito has departed with the waning of the immediate mining industry, it is clear from what was said on 'Tuesday, that even the position in regard to the future of mining in the district is not without hope, while the great asset to the locality in forest wealth is something to marvel at. It is stated on reputable authority according to Mr Donovan, that there is 2,000,000,0p0 feet of timber contiguous to the port, and the levy suggested as a security against public expenditure on constructing a port, would at one shilling per hundred feet, return £IOO,OOO. The figures mentioned in regard to timber suggest the great asset awaiting development. It is a fact, we believe, that the quality of the timber in the Okarito area, is of exceptional value, while the quantity per acre is also surprisingly high. There is a great field for private enterprise to develop a large industry in the locality if the facilities are there for export, and the conditions as to milling are not made irksome. Just at the present when the Government is at. its wits .end to devise means for coping with the unemployment menace, here is the suggestion for a great industrial revival which will provide a large amount of general work if the project suggested be taken up on the scale it should be. There seems little doubt that if Okarito is made the port it should be, the district will receive a great fillip. The port" would be at a suitable point for economical motor transport radiating to various district settlements, and by that means would supply an outlet for produce of various kinds Avithout the long trail to the rail head. It seems clear in any case that the milling wade in that quarter of Westland can never be developed satisfactorily without shipping facilities, and on that acount alone matters affecting harbour improvements should not be delayed unduly. Once a centre for shipping is established, the adjoining territory can be ranged by steam tramways to bring in the timber for marketing, and as Okarito is in point of fact the centre of a great belt of forest from the Wataroa water-shed to that of the Waiho, or even further south, the enormous timber available for export, would be found most probably to be below the actual position. The timber wealth is therefore the strong argument to justify harbour improvement, and if the matter is looked at in the proper light, with regard to- a legitimate effort to cope with the employment problem on sound lines by opening up the country—the major portion of it Crown lands at that—then the move in the direction of’ a port at Okarito is worthy urgent attention on the part of the State. The matter is one which will stand the fullest investigation if looked into from the point of future development of South Westland, and seeing the capabilities of the district as a whole, and its growing importance even under restricted means of access, there should be no doubt or hesitancy about proceeding actively with this suggested development of a promising district asset