Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, September 20, 1923. GREYMOUTH’S GOOD NAME.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1923, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, September 20, 1923. GREYMOUTH’S GOOD NAME.

During the discussion at the recent meeting of the Greymouth Bowling Club on the question of Sunday bowls, Dlr. D. Tennent incidentally remarked that he travelled fairly frequently and he had heard Greymouth called practically every vile name imaginable by people away from the town. If this is the experience of other travellers it is to be hoped that they will .seize every occasion to uphold the good name of this district and its residents, as doubtless Mr. Tennent himself docs. When visitors come here they arc usually in a eulogistic mood, saying many nice things of their hosts. Allowing for conventional politeness, it cannot be doubted that they find West Coasters not the “wild and woolly” community they are frequently asserted to be by those who have no direct experience, and who have never visited these parts. The social standards here can be claimed to be as high as in other parts, and generally West Coasters have no reason to fear comparison with residents of other parts of the Dominion. The Coast is probably the most law-abiding district in the Dominion, judging by the absence of crime. His Honour, Sir Frederick Chapman, presiding at yesterday’s sessions of the Greymouth Supreme Court, commented

on. Ilio lightness of flic calendar. Doubtless, lie was well aware that; this experience is usual, here. Barely, is there much criminal business to he dealt with at the Supreme Court, and the fact that civil cases are few ami far between shows that Coasters can live in harmony with each other. The only adverse criticism that can lie justly made against Greymoulh people is the lack of that community spirit, prominent in other areas, which enables personal predilections to be sacrificed for the common good, resulting in real progress of Ihe district concerned. If this zeal could lie duplicated here, Greymouth would soon be able to confound its detractors. Meanwhile, Coasters visiting other parts should be jealous to defend the honour of the district, refuting libels, and emphasising how in some respects, the Coast is superior, rather than inferior to other places in tin' Dominion. ~

PRICE OF GAS. At various times, the Borough Council has been approached regarding the excessive price of gas, but still silence is maintained. There is no doubt that the charge should be reduced, as the.profits made are considerable, last year’s being about £5OOO, if rumour is true. Considering the nearness to the coal area, Greymouth residents should be able to secure gas at prices much lower than those in other districts have to pay, but the reverse is the case. The only defence offered for the present charges is that the profits go to reduce the general rates, but why should gas-consumers have to subsidise non-users, which is what is being done in actual practice. The question has been raised before in this column, and nothing has occurred to refute the arguments made in favour of cheaper gas, and we again urge the Borough Councillors to be fairer to gas-consumers and give them the relief long overdue.