SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1930, Page 3

SOUTH WESTLAND

’7* (From a Correspondent.) Tf

During the recent totir of the Minister of Mines (the Hon. W. iA. Veitch) in South Westland, publicity was given through the press tb stdtenients made by various speakers Tbgarding the prospects for the future if steps were taken to develop the many latent resources of this pate of the province, and although only .a few weeks liavei elapsed since these statements wore made, proof is '•already afforded that they were bated substantially upon fact, for during Che past fortnight a draft of 800 lam.bs, from Air Norman Friend’s farm, were ferried across the harbour in a punt bail tfor the purpose, to the roadside at Qkarito and conveyed from tfie/e to the railway at Ross by motor lories. Farmers and others in these outlying places are heavily handicapper by the cost entailed in forwarding their products to the markets further north, and the great cost of transporting their requirements ( to where theii* properties are situated.

If facilities in the way of cheap transport of lime and other fertilisers were afforded, racking it possible -to top-dress the land at a reasonable cost., a marked improvement would follow.

Whether these facilities, which some diy must be .provided, will take the form of railway construction or harbour improvement remains to be seen, hut to a casual observer to-day -.it would appear that harbour' improvement at Okarito offers the moat rapid and economical avenue for the development of South Westland. •