The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1930. WAKE UP, CANTERBURY.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1930. WAKE UP, CANTERBURY.

The goodwill tour, from Canterbury now in the district and enjoying something uf the scenic gems of Westland. will, we hope, carry pack to Canterbury such goo.t lepons that our friends on the ocher side of the ranges will wake up and realise something of the'potentialities of the district as a market for che products and warehouses of the other side. The interest in the goodwill tour,, as evidenced by the numbers taking part, does not suggest a burning desire on the part of ou.v East Coast friends to rush this way, and the fact that the business aspect ol the trip had to be delerred apparently for lack of interest, also indicates a failure to realise what such a trip enthusiastically conducted, might mean to Canterbury. The people of Westland have occasion to be grateful always for what Canterbury did for this territory in the eaflv days, and in later years for the influential .support given to the realisation of the desires of the two provincial districts for the completion of the Midland railway. Since that epoch-making event. Canterbury has adopted rather a Micawberlike attitude to Coastal affairs, and although a new territory has been brought into direct rail connection with Canterbury, the intimacy of the past, instead of growing more rapidly, has actually waned. Yet, the railway provides a channel for commercial development of a material character to the pleasure and profit of both sides of the Alps. It would be well, therefore, if the deferred business trip were now promoted on such lines as to leave no diiibt that Canterbury desires the Westland market, and that the influential people of the East will come personally interested in the general welfare of the West. This side of the range, and Westland territory in particular, needs a better train service with Christchurch. When the first time-table was modelled, a train to Hokitika was provided for Mondays. Tt has not run as a regular connection. The time-table was adjusted this week to suit the convenience of the two dozen passengers who ventured this way, but that vservice should he a regular feature of the weekly time-table. 'I no traffic on the line is much above the estimate originally formed, and the extra train connection might be demanded as a right. Then on “express” days, the Hokitika-Mreymouth service should be speeded up, and be in line with the through service between Christchurch and C rev month. The Railway Department jeopardises the local .service in conducting it on

die lines prevailing, and the sooner some ciiauge lor die better is inaugurated me better tor the reputation oi tne manage,neat so far as it desires to meet the traffic requirements or tne people. Rotorua, with all its artificial attractions, can be provided with a de luxe train and hours can be cut off the running time, to cater for tourist traffic. Westland, with the grandest attractions nature can model, can be served only with a semi-goods train to cater for the tourist traffic over the latter part of a long journey. J.t is not right, and with the influence ox Canterbury that condition of affairs could be altered. As far as business matters are concerned, certain markets can be served nere under a suitable railway freight. If the business men would come here, and hear the complaints of progressive farmers as to possioilities for supplying the Coast with winter ieed from the plains of Canterbury, they would become advocates for more business in railway management, seeing that the custom referred to, besides helping the railways, would assist also the farmers able to send stock fodder to the Coast at payaole prices. If that closer touch were brought about and the intercourse established, there would be other important developments in trading which would be all for the benefit,of Canterbury. There is no reason, with the regularity of service that a direct railway supplies, why ■ the hulk of the wholesale trading should not be with the East Coast, A - study of the railway freights would enable the business community.. to realise directions . in wnich, by co-o-perating with the Coast, cney would be helping themselves, and the developing trade would be all for the benefit of the railway. The line is established, and. in use, and it is in the public interests to use it to the greatest possible extent. A friendly invasion by the Canterbury business men would be' a helpful beginning to that end, and it is to be hoped that the project regarding • the visit will come to pass in due course.