The Press. Thursday, January 31, 1924. Hokitika's Exhibition.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 8

The Press. Thursday, January 31, 1924. Hokitika's Exhibition.

Now that their Exhibition is in its final weekj the people of Hokitika will know soon"'if the venture has been a success financially. There has been a good deal of bad weather since the opening day, and as the worst period came about Christmas and New Year it will not be surprising if the balance-sheet is a little disappointing. But whatever the facts prove to be so far as outlaj} and takings are concerned, we are sura that the Committee are as confident) as ever of the success of the venture in the long run. Tho balance-sheet is, of course, a very important consideration in any undertaking. If the Committee find that they have advertised the province free, gratis and for nothing, and perhaps made a little profit for further advertising in the future, they will naturally be a great deal prouder of their efforts than if the treasurer tolls a tale of a different kind. But there will still be no question of success or failure. The Exhibition has succeeded now. It has brought Westland before the rest of the Dominion, and in a less important manner brought the rest of the Dominion before Westland, as that has never been achieved before. It has tempted thousands of people to see with their own eyes what "Tho Press" and other newspapers have been telling them about all tho territory west of the Alps, viz., that nothing has been wanting but railway communication to fill it with prosperous settlers. It is significant already that the Hokitika A. and'P. Show, which was held yesterday and the day before, was freely patronised by exhibitors from Canterbury—an expression of interest in the Coast that is all tho more encouraging because it comes; from tho most cautions class in the community. The fact, too, that Westland farmer? were not able to show stock equal to the animals Brought from Canterbury is a further indication of the price the Coast paid for isolation. With its soil and grass and shelter it requires nothing to make i-o a first-class pastoral district but easier access to the Dominion's best flocks and herds.. That indeed is a further strong reason why the Government should yield to the agitation for cheap railway freights on back loading. The farmer on the Coast should be made to feel that the railway has brought every dairy herd in North Canterbury to his back door, that whatever ho wants in implements or goods ne can obtain at a couple of days' notice and at bed-rock freights, and that makeshifts, live or dead, are therefore bad economy. We hope, too, that our readers will remember that the Exhibition has three davs yet to ran.