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Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1932, Page 4

Kastkii fa11..-* curlier than usual this year, hut a-s expel ience goes, it seems a very brief while since Christmas was with u.s. The inarch of the weeks have not helped greatly towards the better timori hoped for, but at least they should be so much nearer. At tlie moment, this district is looking forward very hopefully to mining developments to assist towards a revival. The outlook is not without hope. Dredging is going to be more and more a factor in' maintaining the gold yield of the district, and fresh enterprises are in hand in that respect. If more were done in legitimate prospecting in new ground there would he greater hope of alluvial finds, while already there is some hope of tangible results from reefing. Tlie price of gold continues' an incentive to new discoveries and new enterprises, and while that spirit is dominant, the future is hopeful. The timber trade still lags, with a little ray of nope that the Australian market may soon revive somewhat. White pine is in medium demand, and there is some small call for rimu overseas, and it is hoped this will improve. Tlie Dominion timber trade is very slack, due to the general depresson, but with what is being done to stem the adverse tide, there is the prospect of some slow improvement, The producers aro still supplying a low market, but quantity is maintained, and the settlers are certainly doing their part to sustain the financial returns to the Dominion. The Government is out to do its best for the people as a whole, but has been hampered by a very fractious Opposition, with a one eyed idea of redeeming the national situation. Betterment would come to the Dominion as a whole if the Government policy were adopted and the people would settle down to make the best oi the position. It Is a time for all to pul] together. Wages mav fall and are falling, but that will help towards more regular employment. Prices of commodities have also fallen, so that there is some compensation in tegaid to the cost of living. Withal folk are not taking the times with too deni tiro faces, iPlaces of amusement can.-ot complain of lack of patronage. The business mnn hns 601116 occnsion to complain, but people live cheerfully, if they do not fare as sumptuously as before. Folk can help the times by wise, spending. Thrift k more in evidence, a fact which suggests _ Wo host is being made of the times, j Westland has such a store of natural { wealth that its resources developed, ensure a decree of permanent progress if only enterprise is forthcoming to ' build 1111. the fortunes of tlie district. I The district, despite the quiet times. 'is not going hack. There is an indication of this in the fact that the I popu la ton 'is incron,sling. There is 1 plenty of country still to settle and |dcvlop, and the stores of timber are 'not a perishing asset. They are at hand to meet any trade revival. The ; land of the district producers £«od i stock and the produce of tlie farms is <o( a high standard. The potentialities 'of Westland in regard to the timber and land are undoubted. A mining di'-eoverv at any moment may lilt the district to the forefront. In natural ' attractions affecting scenery, tlie district is particularly well placed, and must alwavs remain a play ground for the tourist and holiday maker. In short. Westland is so endowed that tho moment conditions in the Dominion revive, the district will ho able t() pnrticioate to tlie fullest degree and ' ciijoy a rich share in the trading pros- ' parity of New Zealand.