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Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1930, Page 4

The deputation from Wednc/sdny night’s public meeting Jmd a very cordial reception at' the hands of the Minister of Mines. Ivtr Veitch is not a stranger to the 1 Coast, and lie happens to know something of the Southern district. He was therefore au fait with the potentialities of the locality, to he tapped by the proposed extension of the railway. He realised at the outset that the potential value of the timber lies in its earliest use, and that so long as it remains isolated and cut off from a market it is not an asset oi value. Its simple conservation by leaving it remote from practical use, makes it only a paper asset, and in a time of need that supplies no immediate succours. Mr Veitch also recognises that left isolated, the value of the timber is wasting by both natural and special causes, and it is not in the interests of the country that it should be so. From all this, it will be seen that the Hon Minister is at once a convert to the need for the railway, and will become in point of fact, an advocate. That is an excellent beginning and will be a useful aid to Mr O’Brien, Member for the district, when support is needed on the floor of the House. Mr Veitch is able to speak with a personal knowledge of the locality and its very hopeful future, and nothing could be more helpful than the iacts of the case put strongly by a eompjctei outsider. It ,would' be well now to induce other Ministers of the Crown to visit the district and see the local situation for themselves. Mr O’Brien is endeavouring to obtain vjirsits frm n the Ministers of Lands and Public Works. Both these Ministers in, the interests of the country at large could pay profitable visits to Westland to spy out the country and study the Crown estate here awaiting development. There are several important land propositions which could he looked into as an aid to development, and some of these large areas are centred oil the track of the southern railway. Combined with the line is, therefore, the very important factor of serving Crown Lands which will be enhanced in value and brought into more direct profit. There is no doubt that every mile the railway line is pushed south will add to the earning capacity of the project, and at the same time load to the increment of Crown Land values, by the facilities

afforded through better access and the means for greater production. The district has a remarkably clear cut case lor the railway, and now that the proposition has been broached, there should be no letting up in the agitation. The lime is short till Parliament meets, and in the interim everything possible should be done to ensure when Parliament is in session that the claims of the work for reauthorisation will be fully and fairly considered by the powers that be. In that way there is every hope that toe desires of the district in the matter will be met, and a start be possible with the railway undertaking.