IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1930, Page 2

IN SOUTH WESTLAND

GOOD- LAND AVAILABLE.

That there is sufficient good land available lor development 011 tnu West Const, particularly in South Westland, to give employment ai d sustenance to hundreds oi lamiiies, thus relieving veiy considerably Hie unemployment problem, was tlie opinion expressed to a Cnristcliurcii reporter by Mr G. Pcnlington, architect to the Canterbury Education Board, who has returned to Christchurch from a Lour of the district. Mr Peiilington made it clear, however that a goad motor road would havo to be ■ formed before this land could be opened up. “The land in tlie vicinity of the Fox Glacier is prooably an exception to most of the land on the Court, said Mr Peiilington. "I here are thousands ol acres ol beautiful country there that one would expect to be better developed. One wouid expect to see a cheese or buttei Lie to 13 there at least,

“The same probably applies to more than one locality on the Coast, and I should say that tins country would be capable of carrying a fair population, providing a good motor road ncie lormed. It seems to me a great pity that the Main Highways Board do.a not get on with this road faster, and Lricl.ee the streams and rivers.

“For the most part, the methods of farming -employed there seemeu to me to bs most inadequate. The country is eminently suited to either dairying or the raising of cattle, and there is 110 doubt that a great deal more could.be done Uvitli it. I must say. though, • that the quality of the cattle, was all that could be desired '1 lastock generally was in excellent condition all the way down the Coast. “There is ample space there for a large number of tlie unempic/ved ir the Government could see its .w ay clear to form a motor road and cut up blocks of land to suit settlers. This would undoubtedly go a ver.N long- way toward solving the unemployment • problem, and in increasing the production of the country. So fail as : ,1 could see, unemployment troubles the Coast very little, and there is any amount of scope for a man with some iiitiative to earn a good living over there.” ’Mr Peiilington also touched on the bird life he had seen over there. In sonic parts he had seen great numbers of .wild pigeons, though tlie smaller varieties of native birds were 110 L so plentiful as could be wished.