The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1938. SOUTH RAILWAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1938, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star , with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1938. SOUTH RAILWAY.

Thk deputation to the lion. Minister of Railways at Greymouth last week, respecting the extension ol the line southwards to Wataroa as an essential stage to assist development, was distinctive, in that few cases for the attention to any district matter have been put more cogently. The speakers were residents of the district well familiar by intimate practice with its resources and possibilities. All were emphatic as to the future ol the district, and none can gainsay the material progress being made, nor the exceedingly bright prospects ahead of Westland in the more or less immediate future. The southern district, is in a happily progressive stage, and everything points to the advancement being of increasing velocity as the district becomes better served. There is

no depression in the south. Tt is so endowed with facilities that'it is iosponsive to the liand of enterprise. The settler or the industrialist finds material ready at hand to promptly bring about improvements. In settlement the district has not had a long life. It is only a few years ago, when localities such as Marihari and Wataroa were cattle runs of thousands of acres. Now since the cutting up of the run country, there are growing settlements. Marihari, for instance, through the agency of its Dairy Coy. has just bum a modern factory capable of turning out 1500 tons of butter per season. That is some practical indication of the good heart the settlers are in. In another avenue, there is the spread of sawmilling south, and the jmstanee at Bruce Bay where a large extent of country was three or four years ago almost uninhabited, can be quoted as showing what industry has done. There is a thriving township calling for public buildings, and facilities to open a direct timber trade with Australia. That is the kind of profitable production to help New Zealand—sell products in exports to bring in wealth from overseas. South Westland can keep up such a trade indefinitely if given facilities. There is plenty of white pine at Wataroa and intermediate areas to ship to Australia, if the Government will loosen up its policy in that respect. The class of homes lining provided in the south, indicates the com torts the settlers are now able to enjoy. This supplies evidence of the standard of life the people are able to build up for themselves. Tn short, the district has the requirements to supply prosperity to those who will go in search of it and by their enterprise shape their operations to the resources to be drawn from the land. Undoubtedly, as Mr Murdoch informed the Minister of Bail ways, “the southern railway proposition can be regarded as the most assured railway undertaking in the interests of the development of the country to take up.” Thai bold declaration is supported by material evidence on all sides. A t-our of the district and an examination of the advancement taking place of late, amply supports all that, lias been said in support of this one important service for the soutli to assure its future beyond all question of doubt, by the ready service it will. afford for all aspects of settlement and industrial returns on the soundest lines.