Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1928. FARMERS’ VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1928, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1928. FARMERS’ VISIT

THE scanty attendance, yesterday, at the public meeting convened by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Greenslade) to discuss the arrangements for entertaining the Otago farmers, did not necessarily mean that Greymouth people are not interested in the visit. Some business men cannot spare the time to attend an afternoon meeting, especially one where a few can make the required plans better than could a crowd. There is no reason to believe that Greymouth residents are apathetic regarding the visitors’ entertainment, townsmen realising that it is their duty to assist district farmers in extending hospitality to those who recently were hosts to the Coasters.

The question will arise, however, whether these exchanges of hospitality are being over-done. The general principle will be applauded by all, but unless such schemes are kept within due bounds, what should.be a pleasure to the hosts, will become a burden. It must not be forgotten that Coast communities are not large in number, nor do they contain many wealthy men. It is much easier for a larger city to give visitors a good time, than it is for country towns to return the compliment to the same extent. In the former instance, the expense is spread over so many, that the individual donation is rarely large. In the lesser populated centres, a .comparatively few have to bear 1 lie brunt, and with the best will in the world, it is not always convenient to give what is required. The West (.'oast has a countrywide reputation for its hospitality, and to-day, suffers from the virtue of that quality. People come to the Coast with erroneous ideas of what is offering, as some recent •Jubilee visitors proved. It is well to maintain the good name of the Coast, but commonsense must not be ignored. When the Coast was less easy of access, visitors could be lavishly welcomed. To-day, when it is as easy to roach Greymouth as any other part of the Dominion, the number of callers has enormously increased, and. obviously, old-time hospitality has to be modified. It is claimed that visitors spend much money in the town, but apart from their hotel accommodation, this expenditure has not hitherto been such as to make glad the hearts of local retailers ami give them cheerful countenances. By the nature of things, if is the. cities that get the commercial advantage of mass excursions.

'Pilis aspect of the visitors’ spending was stressed at yesterday's mecling, but that was a mistake, we think. Guests should not be welcomed for what can be got from them, and the Otago farmers’ visit would be marred were the impression to get abroad if was I heir money that was wanted, and not themselves. The. Coast, of course, is delighted to have them, and Greymouth can be depended upon for its share of the cost. There is no reason if the weather proves favourable, why the Otago people

should not have a delightful holiday, and for that end local residents should co-operate. In future however, it were wise to limit the number of these invited excursionists, as the popularity of the Coast is drawing such crowds on these occasions, making their reception and entertainment an over-increas-ing problem.