CORRESPONDENCE
LOST OPPORTUNITIES
(To the Editor)
Sir.—Whilst reading your journal today 1 was interested to find that at long last you had an editorial dealing with important local matters. Do you know I class your paper as somewhat unique ; for generally “small town” newspapers are purely parochial, but you expand into the realms of world finance and politics. 1 must admit that you have had some splendidly written academic articles on Russia, China, Spain, Australia and other distant lands, which gave pleasure in reading ; but these render little profit, to the soul or pocket of the local community. Yes, Sir, just another instance of the Dog, Bone and .Shadow story ; while you have interested your readers with the shadow of distant things the Bone of great opportunity
has been neglected. The Bone you have missed is the grossly unfair statement made by the Under Secretary of Alines about the hopelessness of mining prospects on the Coast. Admittedly you touch upon this statement in your issue of to-day, but mostly as a reflex of the opinions of local citizens. Why not yourself have taken the lead? What an opportunity to rend, and devour ! Can you not visualise the Under Secretary blenching before the array of facts and figures you could comfort hun with? And why has the reputation been so long delayed? The statement- has had many weeks start and will need much effort to run to earth. However, comfort may he taken from the fact that the utter absurdity of the statement will tend to its discredit. The mining glory of the Coast is too well establish'd to be annihostated by one shot, however heavy. It is hard to real'se that a responsible official should so commit himself. '
It would be much nearer the truth to affirm that tbe West Coast mineral resources are as yet qu:te undeveloped . wealth untold awaits the coming oi the prospector, and every effort should be made to have further monies set apart as subsidies to prospectors.
-Sir, the community of South Westland looks to you to see that justice is done to the district. As Editor of the local paper you have accepted a, public position as leader and as such you must act. Yon nms't justify your journal’s name o' Guardian and Evening Star. The Guardian of the people’s rights and the St-.v to which we may look for guidance. See too it that we look rot in vain ? • Yours etc., THOMBELL COOPER jnr.
, [Our correspondent is evidently not very familiar with the record of this journal as a very faithful and persistent advocate of all that pertains to the advancement of the district. In particular, space has been used lavishly to advance the interests of the southern district, and that policy will, of course, be maintained as opportunity offers.—Ed. G.]
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Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1931, Page 6
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468CORRESPONDENCE Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1931, Page 6
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