The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY, 13, 1930.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY, 13, 1930.

A FORWARD MOVEMENT. Ihk Westland Progress League lias deeided on a tonvard movement in re•spert to the extension of the railway beyond lioss. A public meeting is to be commenced to take up the subject and ascertain the feeling of the people. This movement need not and should not be confined to the townspeople, tne matter we hope will become a pubdo issue, and that all parts wilt bo interested in the project. The southern district in particular has everything to gain from the extension of the line soutti, and in view of the history of the case it is not an unreasonable request t 0 make. In 1911 the line beyond Ross was authorised by Parliament, and a vote made for the work, the preliminary survey was carried out, and everything was in readiness to begin when a change of Government led to the work being stopped, and ultimately to the statutary authority being repeated. Sir Joseph Ward was the Prime Minister in 1911 as he is the Prime Minister to-day. The Hon. McKenzie, who was Minister of 1 üblic Works, recommended the work to Parliament, and the recommendation was adopted. The argument for the construction of the line is greater to-day than it was nearly a score of years ago. The Southern district has made a forward move, and is producing far more. The settlers in the south have- prospered despite the difficulties in the way of transport. It is a selfcontained district capable of carrying a. much larger population, while it contains a vast forest area which would be a feeder in freight for many years to come. The district contains the finest scenery in the world, and year by year is being visited with more and more people. The reasons wltic-h justified the line itself to Ross also apply to the extension beyond Ross. There is the same wealth of timber areas, with better settlement land to tap. Also, there is the fact that private enterprise has pushed a long line of railway south serving a most useful purpose, doing a service which the State was too timid to attempt. The case for the railway seems overwhelming if only the friendly ear of the Government can he secured. The line would become part and parcel of the payable Westland system to which it will he a freight feeder for long years to come. It is to Southern W'estland that the South Island in particular must turn for its timber supplies in the future, and the

facilities of railway traffic f once it is on the line, will enable the commodity to oe exported to all parts of the railway system. An etonsion of the timber industry south will be assured, while ,-ithout the facilities for ready tranojort, large stands of timber will be

1 utliie~sly destroyed as they were in die North .Island in former times, to make room for settlement. Those who are zealous about saving the timber irom wasteful destruction could do good service now by lending their aiu lo advocate the extension of the line south. Settlers and others adjacent to lie line of probable route might well manifest a special interest in this movement. In times past, sections of lie settlers tried unaviiilingly to move the Reform Government to action. That party took a strong “set’’ against the line from the time the late Sir William Fraser vetoed the expenditure. . i.e fates should he more favourable now that- the Ministry is led by a grime Minister who supported the line prev.ously and saw to its authorisation, ihe agitation should therefore take definite shape so that alien the Minister of Public Works visits the district shortly as lie is expected to do, a conmade' request may he put before him for legislation next session to authorise the line, and provide the finance for its earliest prosecution. The present is an opportunity which the people of Westland should support to their fullest capabilities.