FUTURE IS SAFE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 5

FUTURE IS SAFE.

TIMARU AS COMMERCIAL CENTRE. ITS SURE FOUNDATION. (SPECIALLY -WRITTEN TOR "THE PBESS.") (By I\ B. Footo, President of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.) The district of South Canterbury, with Timaru as its centre, the largest town but one in the Provincial District, has during the last twenty-five years made- rapid strides. There was a time when Oamaru, the chief town of North Otago, was a more important centre than the port of South Canterbury, but that day belongs to the past. Timaru is now considerably bigger on a population basis than its neighbour. Nor docs its extension seem to be halting. Added to this, Caroline Bay has developed remarkably of late years, and the bathing facilities, being both numerous and safe, form an attraction that appeals to many tourists as well as to the residents. South Canterbury is fortunate in that within its borders is one of the chief scenic attractions of the world, Mt. Cook, and the tourist traffic should be encouraged as much as possible, since considerable benefits in tho way of revenue to tho district accrue from it. The wonders and tho beauty of tho Mount Cook region are becoming more widely known, and arc attracting more and more tourists every year, and we can confidently look forward to a steadily-growing revenuo from this source. The consideration of easy access, together with a beautiful climate, has helped to make the city the home for many farmers and business men who, having borne the heat and burden of the day, elect to spend the autumn of their lives in retirement. Here they may enjoy ease with pleasure and dignity in delightful surroundings. From all parts of the Dominion folk have made their homes in Timaru. Even Sunny Nelson has added its quota to the population. That its businesses are sound, progressive, and carefully managed goes without saying. Tho position of tho town to-day is an eloquent testimony to tho foresight, endurance, industry, and energy of the pioneers of South Canterbury. The place has had its ups and downs, but has emerged triumphantly through bad times. Confidence in the Future.

Numerous warehouses havo lately been erected by merchants whose head offices are in other centres, showing that confidence in the future of the district is not confined to those who laid tho foundations of that prosperity which it at'preseut enjoys. It cannot be said that there arc a great many factories in operation, but with the advent of the cheaper power and greater transport facilities, these will doubtless arise. The harbour has been greatly improved, and its condition is a monument to tho faith and enterprise to those who created it, for Nature was notlavish in her gifts of suitable berthing places for ships. A plan for further improvements is now under consideration, and, when tliese are materialised, Timaru will possess a harbour even mqre suitable tha-i at present for the safe and expeditious handling of its seaborne trade.

Tho magnificent areas of wheatgrowing land, which can also be used as grazing lands for sheep or cattle, provide a solid foundation for wealth such as few districts in favoured New Zealand possess. The inhabitants are not slow to realise this, and arc building upon tile work of the early pionens ill such a manner as will greatly increase the value of the legacy which they were fortunate enough to inherit. With the introduction of modern scientific methods of farming, of modern machinery, the application of fertilisers, and more intensive farming, our production can be very greatly increased to the benefit of farmer and merchant alike. Unfortunately, at the present time the values of practically all kinds of farm produce arc on the down grade, but they are still at a price that is profitable to the farmer working land purchased at a reasonable figure. Fluctuations in prices of primary produce have always occurred, and, no doubt, will continue to occur, for the reason that New Zealand cannot control the world market in any of its primary products, and the price is, therefore, affected by factors beyond our control. It behoves the producer, however, to keep up a high standard of quality, and, if this is done, the future should hold no terror for the practical man who is not afraid of work.

Few Manufactures. In one respect Timaru has lagged behind other tiouth Island centres, and that is in its manufactures. One is led to wonder why this is so. It has many natural advantages, a safe harbour, a, magnificent extent of rich country, abundant water supply, a climate second to none in New Zealand, and its geographical situation is such that it is the natural distributing centre for the South Island. The only thing that it

has lacked in the past has been cheap and efficient power, which is the first requirement ot a manufacturer, it has no local steam coal and its c.ectricity supply has left much to be desired bata as regards price and efficiency. Steps are now being taken to make the present Coleridge supply more certain and more continuous, but there is no promise of a reduction in price. It seems out of all reason that thp Christehnrch manufacturer should be able to purchase power from the same Government source, Lake Coleridge, at a much lower rate than is paid by the Timaru consumer. It is hoped that the proper authorities will not rest until the disability in this respect is removed. Another vital matter affecting South Canterbury is that of immigration. There is no doubt that it is our duty to assist the Home Country in the disposal of its surplus population, and so long as the immigrants are the right class and willing to work, a verv considerable number could be absorbed in this district. Unfortunately, at'the present time the North Island is securing an unduly large proportion of the immigrants. There is no space to go into the beneficial effects of an' increase of population in reducing.taxation and on questions of defence, etc., but the beneficial effect is considerable. All classes of the community have in recent years relied too greatly on Government assistance, which has led to too much Government interference in trading and the fixation of prices in an endeavour, raostlv unsuccessful,--to upset the economic law of supply and. demand.

Tyct us then, in tho future, bo more self-reliant, more courageous, in our commercial ventures, mpre energetic in tho prosecution of our present activities, more ready to adopt new ideas and new methods, and, with an ahiding faith in the destiny of South Canterbury, work to the end that it should bo justly regarded as tho fairest flower of the fairest province iii this splendid DominioiL