INDUSTRIES ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 4

INDUSTRIES ON WEST COAST

IMPORTANCE OF FARMING PROGRESS LEAGUE’S DISCUSSION From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, May 23. Land development on the West Coast and the- retention of the .gold mining and gold dredging industries were discussed by the Westland Progress League at the half-yearly meeting at Hokitika this evening. Backing, help, and interest from all residents in the district were requited, said the president (Mr G. R. Harper). . In his half-yearly report, the president said that it must be patent to anyone that the future of the West Coast did not lie in timber and coal nor gold, if that latter industry could survive. “We teust Increase the scope of our farming industry and keep on increasing it. How this can be done is a problem,” he said. Government aid had been' urged in the direction of land clearing and draining, and in the light of the Lincoln College report, the West Coast was capable of very considerable expansion, with positive results, provided they could get the people oh to the land and give them the necessary good start. The league was still awaiting a re♦’v from the Minister of Finance (MrNash) on a clear question: "Does the Government consider that the gold mining industry should be kent going, or should it be extinguished?” A motion was passed calling upon the Minister to sa - clearly what the Government Was going to do about the gold mining industry. The secretary (Mr J. Saunders) said that some weeks ago the Minister had promised an immediate examination of the problem, but nothing had eventuated.