The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1930. ADVANCE WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1930. ADVANCE WESTLAND.

The pamcuiais avaiui-oie in regard to the southern trip of the representatives of the County Council and Messrs O'Brien and Johnston, give very strong colour to the belief in the certain future of the southern district' as it is developed. From the de tails of the several localities visited, it will 'be realised that there is a large area of country suitable for settlement awaiting aceuus and development. The effect of providing access in the case of the Poerua run opened np recently, shows vvliat can be done in the way of speeciv settlement, when facilities are provided. In little more than two months, a road has been constructed, the .successful settles are on the areas, and fencing and building are going ahead in such a manner as to indicate the practical enthusiasm of the new settlers. Other areas of a similar character are lying dormant apparently at present, or at best, are used only for winter grazing with no residential settlers. There is no doubt this picture could be changed were the land to he made more readily available by vehicle access, while in some cases there is room for more settlers on the considerable areas available. In this respect, the expressed opinion of the Member for Westland is worth noting. Mr O’Brien considers that- this district offers the best facilities in the Dominion for land settlement, owing to the reasonable cost at which it can he taken up. It appears to us, that tho Lands Commission set up lately to spy out the settlement resources of the district, can do much to aid a progressive settlement policy for Westland in particular. There are many Crown and Endowment areas worth looking into, and with the desire foi land, and so many eligible young men keen and anxious with fair resources to get on the land, the antho 1 itios should exert themselves to the fullest in the endeavour to advance land settlement. The Southern district is a very large area of country, and it offers special facilities for attention. Being so largely a Crown area much land is available without paying a high price, or any price at all, to secure possession for settlement purposes. It is undoubtedly the cheapest land settlement proposition in the Dominion. The recent visit brought to light also particulars of an important flax milling proposition at Tctnho. whore it iu nronosed to operate over several hundred acres of the Retold im swamp land. That area has been not' d for very long for the excellence of its soil, once drainage is provided. In rarts where drainage has been curried out, a rich silt soil is available capable of growing anything that the climate will ripen. In that respect it is a veritable treasure land, the only drawback being the initial cost of a comprehensive drainage, scheme. Private enterprise is now bent on taking tho matter iiP. with a. view to starting a largo industry in tho wav o! flax growing and milling. Apart from that."much of tho large area available could lie. utilised for farming, e-n: with tho richness of the soil manv small dairy farms could in time dot the extensive area of flat country available. Industrially, of course, it would the. very pleasing to see a township o,()0 workmen established at Tetaho,

and tlie creation of such a centra must give the soul.li a. great fillip There arc other similar areas in the southern territory. The La Fontaine swamp area, is another case in point where industrial expansion would hr possible when flax milling again returns to its own. Ik norally, therefore, the land possibilities of the smith country not only give promise, but there is a piospecu 01 an important steady development coming to paMs in the ncai future. The settlers and others evince the fullest interest in tlve possibilities, and with that spirit abroad it is foi the authorities to do all in their power to further the advancement possible if by a united and special effort more land can be loaded and thrown open for permanent settlement. Such a step will help materially to assure the future of the whole district. Advance Westland.