MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1930, Page 3

MINISTERIAL VISIT

IT ON) P A. DE LA PERBJSLLE AT HOKITIKA.

The Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, arrived in Hokitika on Saturday evening, hawing (travelled from Christchurch

by motor car. He was accompanied by. ]):Ir S. G. Collett, assistant manager of the Tourist Department, Hon; G. Witty, M.L.C., and Mr Coghla'nd, private secretary. ' t Keller 's Hotel at 8.15 p.m. a deputation waited on the Minister, it consisted of Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), D. J. Evans (Deputy Mayor), J. A. Murdoch (Member Westland County . Council), Dr ' Teiclielmann, T. W. Duff, W. J. Butler, J. J. Mclntosh and G. F. Colon (Progress League members). Tire Mayor extended a hearty welcome to tile Minister to the district, on behalf of the citizens, and trusted his stay in the district would be a pleasant one. He was glad they had good weather for their journey. He asked for his kind attention to the matters to be brought before him, .and concluded by repeating his hearty expressions of welcome to the district. Mr J. A. Murdoch on behalf of the j County Chairman, Mr B. Ward, join- j ed in the welcome and apologised for j the absence 'of the Chairman. He. hoped the visit of the Minister to the district would be a very pleasant one. Hon. Mr Perrelle said' lie was pleased to be present that evening. This was his first visit to the West Coast, and lie had always longed to see this famous county. He was interested in a mining community as lie was horn in Central Otago, and remembered the glories of tile goldfields-that had faded. Now they had farming, interests and the. tourist trade to interest them very largely. The recollections of their journey over Arthur’s Pass was a memorable one, the flowering | rata being a glorious sight, followed as it was by tile green valleys and | other scenes. He thanked them for their kind welcome to tile town and district.

:: Dr Tcichelmann (President of the Progress League) said they desired tbring a number of, matter's before tin?

: Minister, mainly in regard to pu!>- ! licity as affecting their tourist rej sorts. The development of the Con-’ had gone ahead by leaps and bourn 1 -', but there .was still a lot to.be don- in I this regard and they' l desired to Inr-e the-best assistance of the Department jin this connection. In regard to Arj thur’s Pass National Park Board, of i which he was a member, he had been I . . . ' . . asked by the President to bring under the notice of the Minister the necessity of assistance being given in coriiiection with the, opening up of tracks to some of the skiing placer there. He again urged attention ...to l""ihe,... ; necessiiy . .of....increased., .P-iblicity fffrcT Would leave other 'matters to later speakers to refer to. i Mr D. J. Evans said the deputation desired to . ask for greater publicity at tourist bureaus both in New

Zealand and other places outside of the Dominion. It was,-felt that intending visitors did hot. get the full particulars they should of 'the. beauty spots' of Westland.He had road wit' 1 interest of pj'bposals for improving -pfiblkiation in regard to the .South Island, and trusted that the glories of the West Coast would ge a prominent position' given them.

They had to. thank the Government for attention given at Lake Mahinapua and at the glacier tracks had been made, and at Lake Kanieri a hut had been built. He made an urgent request for huts on the main road -below the Haast. (The Minister interjected to state that a report had been- asked from a Public Works Officer on tbo matter.) There was also

a hut required at Paringa Lake. Thanks were duo to the District Engineer for some good tracks at the glacier recently made. Urgent attention was required at the hot springs

at Waiho and the Fox Glacier. There is a bath at Franz -Josef, but the pump is out of order, and a better contrivance for pumping was needed. At Lake Malfinapua there was a want of a road from the railway to the lakeside, a distance of about a third of a mile. If this were made suitable for motors cars it would prove a great convenience-,' and a small grant would suffice to give suitable access,- At Lake Kanieri there was a- desire' for more conveniences. He would like .the Minister to see Lake .Kanieri and also the Kokatahi-Koiterangi farming districts and the Hokitika Gorge,

Referring to Acclimatisation Society work Mr Evans urged the liberation of opossums in South Westland which would prove a most suitable location. It had 'been 'proved that: 'bird life had increased in the district substantially since the introduction of opossums, and the industry had proved a very valuable- one. In regard to the deer menace the Society were doing their part to keep it under control and the report of Mr Forbes in regard to this subject had been sent on to the Minister at Wellington. Deer in Arahura and Kokatahi districts had been largely reduced by the settlers. Mr E vans concluding stated lie was pleased at the visit of the Minister to the district, and he took the opporunitv to state that they were pleased to know that Sir Joseph Ward was improving in health and would ask the Minister to convey to Sir Joseph their good wishes for his early recovery to good health.

. Mr Murdoch said Westland had just cause for complaint against the Tourist Department .in the past for their cutting out of South Westland or at least not doing it justice in 10gard to its tourist attractions. The Minister had referred to mining and

tlie speaker would like to have the opportunity of showing him over the dredge at Rimu Flat. He extended an invitation from the' Manager; Mr [Radford, to pay a visit and sec it working. Referring to the hot ■ spring at Wailio, ho mentioned the inability for a visitor tohave a'liot'lhdth'owing to tho pump being out of order. The Minister in' reply Stated • there were great possibilities' for tourist

traffic. At present it was worth a miliijon a year and in the next year or two they hoped to increase it to two or three millions. There were no reasons why we should not have a dozen tidies as many tourists coming hero as there was at present. He appreciated the remarks about further publicity of the South Island, and he joined with them in wanting t.o seo the South boosted a good deal more than it had been in the past. The South Island had suffered considerably in the past owing to the discontinuance of the Bluff steamer service to Australia, but recently the service had ‘been recommenced. Lnluckily it was interrupted at west'llt owing to the loss of the Manuka, b”t that would be remedied in the "bear future. It was costing the Government £36,000 a year, and th'dy \v'r\

hoping the traffic Would increase. They were making, .an effort to increase .the; Bluff f passenger . service, nndi had inaugurated a scheme which .visitors from Australia co .id travel to Bluff, and visit the Cold Lakes, having four days sea journey each way and eight days in New Zealand, sixteen days in all at a total cost for train, motor, hotel and steamer charges of £33. They hoped by giving these and similar extended outings to increase 'tile traffic,-' rand make it a regular industry. They had the goods to sell—the finest scenery ■ in the world.

Replying to requests made the Minister said in regard to Arthur's Pas-' he would dq his best to help, and mentioned several grants in various parts that , had appeared on the last Estimates'.

In regai'd to further advertising oi the district lie promised to see that iii 'all advertising of the 'scenic beauties, thal'in all publications t-hi-district" would receive attention and every endeavour he made to see that Westland comes into its own. Reference, was made to the amounts spent in advertising tiie various di--jLricts, it being stated that the Mt. Cook Company spends thousands every year in putting its attractions before the public in Australia and other places. He had with him Mr Coheft who was an enthusiast- in his work and who was doing his utmost to push on what was now a regular industry.

In regard to omossnn'is, this was a very valuable industry and personally lie' would like to have them distributed, in suitable districts, but not in

fruit growing districts. He was pleased’ to 'hear -the remarks of Mr Evans in,regard to ‘bird life, which substantiated a report lie' received from Stewart Island of ah increasing bird life iii forests.

In regard to the deer menace he was holding a conference to deal with this question lit Christchurch on Mav 7tli and he trusted the Westland Society would he represented there.

Referring again to t fie scenic beauties of New Zealand, the Minister .said he had beep informed by Lord Craigavon that he had travelled all over the world and that the scenic beauties of New Zealand were Urn daddy of the lot. The latter proposed to have a circular letter issued, and he hoped to get either the Prince of Wales or the Duke of York to sign it, asking the British people to visit the Doniinionsi before going to foreign countries.

■ The Minister said he was glad to hear from Air Murdoch that mining was not right out in Westland. He had vivid recollections of tile early days of Otago, at Skippers Gully and elsewhere. He had a firm belief that with the advent of science and machinery there were great possibilities yet for mining. There was a lot o f country that had only ‘been scratch'''' and some not touched at all. He v as an optimist to the hilt. The Minister said lie had listened with pleasure to the references made to Sir Joseph Ward and the good wishes expressed for 'his restoration to health. He considered that it was not at all sporting or fair that some individuals and some newspapers should say or think that the Prime (Minister should relinquish his position because of bis health. Sir Joseph was not the only Prime Minister who had been laid aside by illness. Every member of the Cabinet was

pulling his full weight and the country is not suffering as a result of the unfortunate illness of the Prime Minister. Opponents were asking for the ) Government’s policy. The legihhtfioa •for the. coming-session has bees well prepared and would be ready in good time. - He asked what Governmrnt had ever announced its legislation programme months before the session opened.

Concluding, the Minister expressed his pleasure at being able, to , vis. t Westland and he thanked-those present for tho hearty welcome extended to 1 him.- (Applause.)

Subsequently a general conversation ■followed on various subjects, before the gathering concluded.

Tho Minister and Party left on Sunday morning for Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and are returning today, travelling on to Greymoutli tins evening where they stay the night, and going next day via the Coastal road to Westport. ... ' .