BRIGHT FUTURE

Grey River Argus, 10 December 1938, Page 14

BRIGHT FUTURE

Hon. P. C. Webb A glowing picture of the future of the West Coast was painted by the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) in an interview with a representative of the “Grey River Argus’' yesterday, at the conclusion of his West Coast tour. “My general impression of this tour of the West Coast' is that it has a great farming future” said Mr Webb. “1 think that the introduction of the modern machine which was opened at Kanieri to-day gives us an idea of what could be done in the clearing and draining of other lands.” “I am convinced that a better feeling exists in the coal-mining industry,” added Mr Webb, “and I leel that both the miners and .the employers are conscious of their responsibilities and have no doubt that both will respond accordingly. Regarding gold mining, 1 am convinced that the mammoth dredge we have seen working is merely the beginning of a boom in gold dredging on the West Coast if not in the whole of the Dominion, and I am particularly, gratified with the generous attitude taken up by the Kanieri Gold Dredging Ltd in its voluntary offer to plant trees on the tailings, thus to leave as a State forest an additional asset in the district.” SCIENTIFIC FARMING. “Now that we have paid so much attention to jnining,” said the Minister, “and are so well on the way to progress, I am convinced that' the greatest work ahead is in the direction of applying modern science to the farming industry. If this is given full expression to —and I know that it W in—it will be the greatest step forward in the history of production on the West Coast. . I know of no land policy comparable to the one enunciated by Mr Savage when he said that science must be brought into die needs of the farming community, and I am -confident that the West Coast has a future comparable to no other part of New Zealand.. All that is needed is co-operation between ‘at sections of the community for the purpose of pushing the Coast forward in every conceivable direction. With the mining and Timber resources plus the rich, fertile soil, endowed with plentiful rainfall, I am convinced that the best gold that will come from the Coast in years to come will be from the bullocks, sheep and primary produce that will ivfleet this Taranaki of the South.” The Minister completed a fortnight’s tour of the Buller and West' land electorates yesterday, and left for Christchurch early last evening by car via Arthur’s Pass.. He was accompanied by Mr A. J. Ridler (Controller of the Employment Division of the Department of Laocur), Mr S Y. Jones (private secretary) and. Miss Pearl Crabb (stenographer). Mr (Webb will leave Christchurch this evening for Wellington. Mr Webb will re-visit the West Coast early in February, when it is expected that he will be accompanied by the Prime Minister (RL Hon. M. J. Savage) and several other Ministers who will attend the experimental demonstration of farm-land clearing methods being tried out in the Buller district.