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Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1938, Page 4

The dairying enterprise in the Harihnri district is carrying out an extensive overhaul of plant and buildings. This has necessitated cream being sent to Hokitika for butter making, bearing out the contention that a central factory here had that possibility as a ground for the building of a largo structure hero. As showing how that useful amalgamation was missed, something like £7OOO is now being

spent at Tnter-Wanganui to equip the district with a butter factory. This is some earnest of the future of dairying in the southern district as development takes place. The district was wiitten up lately by an agricultural visitor, who spoke largely of its fat stock producing qualities. But it has been proven that, the district is capable, too, of producing good dairy stock, and supplying a large annual field. Westland generally has an inferiority complex as to its possibilities outside gold mining apparently. A rather contemptuous view is held of land values and production in Westland, even by SO m e holding high Places. It ,is apparent-the potentialities of the far filing district have not had proper consideration* and the benefits of improved roads and mortorn traction taken into account. • We are satisfied if an arterial railway were pushed into the south, at least as far as Wataroa, the several districts with good road connections, would be profitable feeders to the business of the line. It would help too the spread of dairying. With a rail-head at Wataroa, motor vehicles would have a good radius south, to bring up supplies at least from as far south as Mahitahi. The shelter and feed in much of the heavy land south, produces some of the best fat stock going on the Addington market, and the land used for dairying would giv 0 a generous yield also. The spirited enterprise at’ Harihari now, shows tile* faith of the InterWanganui people in the stabilised future of their district, and they deserve the success that will come to them as their clients grow in number and in herds with more economical means of transport.