The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1929. SEEING WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1929. SEEING WESTLAND.

So jit; one has remarked that the best way to advertise a country or a district is to induce people to see it for memselves. Working on that theory, it would be wise therefore to do what is possible to attract visitors to Westland, and aiso incidentally to encourage our own people to see more of their own district for themselves. Now that access has been improved to the extent it has by attention to the roads and bridges, there is all the more justification for inviting traffic up and down the district. A useful move is in hand wan regard to a camping place for motorists. Such a provision is a regular provision in most centres, and places providing it, ,lmve found the value of the action. In a district such as this a community effort would be-of value. The effect of increased traffic is for the general good because all expenditure by tourists and others circulates freely. It is ready money which passes through various channels, and the sum of it is increased prosperity. There has been some evidence in the-Dominion of an effort to discountenance tourist traffic. Sir Francis Bell, in the Legislative Council, was a notable offender in that direction. The revelation of Ills personal views bo publicly expressed, probably explains why the Tourist Department under the Deform Government became so inert. Tourist traffic must be ljelpful to a country, not only in bringing people to New Zealand ready to travel its length and breadth, and so promote fresh minds to bear on the possibilities

and resources of the country. All do not come solely for pleasure. There arc many who come for the profit to bo derived by settling m ll4e Dominion, and perhaps establishing industries or introducing lreah • trade. Regarding the matter more hr its. ] oca 'i application, the value of advertising our own district must bo recognised as of paramount importance. Westland is a very large area and is very sparsely populated. Yet it contains tlic gems of scenic worth provided with' the lavish hand of nature, there is everything in forest, river, lake and mountain scenery which could be desired by the most exacting traveller, and full justification lor lauding it. The American motto is that “it pays to advertise,” and Westland being what it is, might well be advertised to the limit of local resources. There are different methods of advertising. Much publicity has been done through the press and pictorially. r l here is the suggestion for some practical advertising by an exhibit of Westland’s resources at the next Canterbury Winter Show. This is a step beyond the mere scenic resources which had special treatment at the last Winter Show. It appears an excellent idea to bring the resources of the district more to the front. There is a very hazy idea among outsiders as to what Westland i s capable of. The good folk think only of the Coast districts as gold producers, and as the mining lias waned, believe the district is gradually declining. There is not any real knowledge about the growth of settlement and the qua’ity of the produce. A practical demonstration of that aspect, even in competition with some of the ri.h sections of Canterbury, might be ambitious, but it would he a sure way of opening the eyes and minds of those who at present rather discount the possible progress of the place. It seems to be a case of helping ourselves, and a very practical way of doing; so. A meeting is to be held this week to advance the project, and if it is taken up with spirit the result should be a display in every way creditable and an excellent advertisement of far-reaching effect for the future benefit of Westland. The movement seems to be complementary to the desire of opening the way for more people seeing Westland, and along with other efforts to advertise the district in a practical way. we hope the proposal will take definite shape.