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Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1930, Page 4

Mention is made in this issue of the opening of a new road in the Koiterangi district. The road will. be of very useful purpose for the settlement and should lead to the establishment of more dairy farms in that locality, as the road opens up some very fine pastoral country. Westland as a whole needs more and more roading, and the local body cannot concentrate too enthusiastically on the undertaking of roads to open up fresh territory. Probably if land values were higher there would be a stronger opinion regarding more roads, 'but we take it, with the cheaper land, there is more scope for settlement, and there should be a greater demand for roads There are very few of our settlements where more roads are not justified, and if it is possible to recure a visit from the Minister of Public Works in the near future, a point should he made of the obligation there is oil the Government to do more to open up the country; which is to a very great extent Crown lands. As a body, the’settlers in Westland are making a success of their undertakings. There is no doubt about the increase of the produce of the district. In stock and dairy produce, the country is demonstrating its pastoral resources in a very definite manner. There is thus all the more reason to expect a steady 1 programme of settlement to go forward. 'Fhe roading of the district, and particularly the hack blocks, will help to that end. The present Government is pledged to put more people on the land. So far a.s Westland is concerned, Mr Forbes can help himself to realise his objective as Minister of Lands by seeing that improved access is given to suitable areas capable of carrying settlors. There are several instances where more could and should he done without delay in this matter. By taking up this matter in a comprehensive way useful work would bo provided for the ,unemployed by tapping areas of land which under closer occupation would carry settlers for all time. We. hear of a great deal of ’ money being spent elsewhere in treeplanting and roading areas which it is hoped some decades hence will carry forestry, The roading of settlement 1 areas in Westland would be a far *

better proposition for botli the present and the future. The local body which took up the matter of pushing through Station road to a point of arterial value, will, we hope, take up other propositions with a like object, and by pressing these matters upon the attention of the Government good results will accrue. The district will have to rely more and more on its pastoral production, so that the opening up and settlement of the country will he always a matter of considerable moment.