The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1948. DELIVERING THE GOODS

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1948. DELIVERING THE GOODS

could be described only as a studied attempt the other day to disparage, in print, the work for the district during the brief interval since his election of the'Member for Westland, does not seem to have had any more effect on his initiative than it has had justification therein. The jibe in question was one regarding the securing of an immediate commencement with the work of constructing a new Post Office at Hokitika. It is not without significance, therefore, that one of the next endeavours of Mr Kent should have at once been that of securing an improvement for the same community in its housing situation. As there also appears to have been the same success attending his advocacy, he may possibly have again to reckon with a remonstrance lest that success might be reckoned on the credit side of his political account. Hokitika, according to the Government’s decision, will be.provided with more housing if the community will co-operate to the extent of having the work tendered for. Nothing could be fairer, for not even his adversaries could ask Mr Kent to follow up his intervention with a hunt for builders in other parts of the country. A petty spirit is the only explanation of an attitude which proclaims it a case of: “Pleads we win—Tails you lose”. When certain people very recently were proclaiming their suspicion that not enough public money was likely to be spent locally to meet their wishes, it was alleged passionately that the district would have to whistle for any consideration, and that the neighbouring electorate was in the same box. It was likewise asserted that Greymouth was being denied a new Police Station. It safely may be left to the Member for the District to answer that aspersion in the same manner as he has answered those regarding other works —by pointing to actual preparations for the carrying out of the job in question. ’ As regards the Buller district, there is to-day a confirmation of the intention of the Government to improve the mining equipment there to a degree entailing an outlay of £500,000. which should go further in maintaining employment for a larger population than anything else suggested by those whose anxiety is only to find bones which they can pick with the Government. Such critics have shown a readiness to make out that if the Government, as in the case of watersiders here or elsewhere, provides a better environment, it does so at the expense of other people, whereas, in the specific cases of Hokitika and Greymouth public buildings, the Government actually is. completing the arrangements for the undertakings. Doubtless discretion was judged the better part of valour when the Government provided up-to-date housing for miners in Inangahua, but very faint indeed has been any praise for the Government forthcoming from its critics on that account. It seems timely to whisper a hint to the element who, For reasons of their own, have no use for the Government except to find fault with it. If they are nearly so anxious as they claim for effective, as distinct from 'clamorous, advocacy of district improvements per medium of State expenditure, they ought at least to make the channel of their representations to the Administration the same as communities choose, everywhere else. They should submit requests through the Member for the District, instead of allowing others an excuse to allege that £hey, instead of hie, should be given prior attention, and that even should his advocacy be effective, he be denied any acknowledgement. It is admittedly a fact that, one National Party line in this island is to allege the other island does better in the matter of State expenditure. Works plans, especially in the hydro sphere, lend that plea no colour, but when it comes to suggesting that the West Coast is neglected, another hint is indicated. Those whose politics might prompt them to question, the con-

sideration given the. West Coast since 1935, ought to be very careful not to interest other provinces in any close comparison. If they do, they must reckon with a reaction such as would put upon the whole thing absolutely a contrary complexion. The West Coast, to say the least, has nothing at all to grumble about.