ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1914. JUSTIFIABLE OPTIMISM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 110, 12 May 1914, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1914. JUSTIFIABLE OPTIMISM.

;'Thank God jor the optimists!' 1 exclaimed the chairman of the Wairau Harbor Boaa-d at the Mayoral banquet on Friday evening. This sentiment was heartily applauded, as was only natural. But oh looking round the crowded room, and especially after listening to the speeches—some twenty or more of them- I—one1—one could not help .asking the question, "Where are the pessimists?" Certainly there were none amongst thlp speakers. One or two of the speeches sounded notes of warning and contained words of advice the neglect of which would, it was asserted, spell danger to the community; but for the (rest a healthy optimism and cheerfulness which were good to notice pervaded all the utterI anees. The gathering, as was nien- ! tioned in the report published in Saturday's issue, was thoroughly re- [ presentatiye of the 'local-governing,1' commercial/and industrial interests or Blenheim and district, and to judge from the remarks made—and' a good deal can be said in the space of three hours—there is nothing much wrong with, the province of Madborough. It goes without saying, of course, that there are some anomalies that need removing, some blank spaces, that need filling up, some wrongs that need redressing. There -are, for instance, the wharfage ehairges that go to (make Fiction one of the most expensive ports in the Dominion to land goods at. Then, again, there is the urgent requirement of better communication with tho outside world, commencing with tho city of Wellington. There is also the question of the extension of tli© South Island Main Trunk Railway to bring Marl-borough into closer touch with Canterbury, and the formation of a good motor-road via Tophouse to connect with the West Coast railway system. Lastly, and most important of all, there are our thousands upon thousands of acres of land crying out for settlement. The cut-

ting-up of Hill<jrsdeii, although it was not the most eminently suitable estate in Marlborough for subdivision, showed that where land is made available there will be plenty of demand for it. The cutting-up of the Wither Run, right at Blenheim's door, and containing land judged eminently suitable for fruit farms, will, should the decide to purchase it —ias we earnestly hope it will—be eagerly awaited: but even then Mr Massey, as Minister for Lands, will not have accomplished his whole duty towards this province. MJarlboroug'h, according to the last census returns, possesses a population of about three and a-third persons to the square mile —fewer inhabitants in proportion to its size than any other province- in the Dominion. Thea-efore we contend that it is entitled to first consideration when the question of land-settlement is under consideration by Cabinet. , What can Marlborough land grow? If , we. are to believe Attbe Statements of the leading mei^lhants and business '•rrien, made at Friday night's function —and we see no'reason whatever to accuse them of "talking through their ibats" or giving utterance to remarks that will not bear the closest, -most searching scrutiny—Marlborough' will grow many products, almost to perfection. It is rapidly. ..becoming one of the seed gardens <gf the world, its soil and climate giving it advantages for fjeed-productio-n wilxich no other part of New Zealand, at; --any rate, enjoys. Again, experts from other places speak enthusiastically of the future of the Wairau Plain; as a iruit-producing district, and the fact that the great j bulk of the land that is at present be- [ ing sold is going iOo outside buyer® is proof that men who. have seen other lands have though^ the Marlborough article superior, for orchard purposes. One speaker at the Mayoral banquet forotold the., time when .'fruit' would displace barley from V its important position among, ouir exports; but a merchant, who followed was sceptical on this point. "tTnat would mean,'.' shle remarked,' "that we should have to drink cider instead; of beer." But, joking apart, there appears to be a very big future before the fruit-grow-ing industry in this province. Dairying, too, is .making- rapid and sutn stantial^ progress/ arid side by wide with daii'ying the pig-raising industry may confidently be expected- to assume such proportions that in the not far distan^ future the bacon factory which, is being established will be kept fully employed. At present Taranaki is the • chief dairying: district in the Dominion, and, as one speaker on Friday evening remarked, if there Were a slump butter Tara'naki would be hard hit; whereas Maalbbrough, when it takes its proper place as a butterproduemgi province;; would not suffer to anything like such an extent, .as it lias so many otiher strings to its bow. Another interesting' fact of which mention was made is that Marlborough frozen meat is practically on a level with the Canterbury product so far as prices are concerned, proving tthat this1 provincev grows as good mutton and lamb; as its soiithern neighbor—that is to say; as good as tile bast. To quote one more instance, the 'reports:-cabled from London giving the^ results of the latest wool sales show that excellent prices are being obtained for- Marlborough clips. ' ;>/ /'■'■■.. The above, then, are some of the things that Mairlborough land can grow. W'hatj ,is now required is the opportunity to^grpw them to the best advantage-van easily accessible market, coupled with (j cheap means of transit, so that Marlborough will not be handicapped from the very start by •the lower fredght. feliarges ienjoyed by its competitors.' "More than one leading business man looks forward to the time when Kctwi will become a port of entry and departure for ooean-go-ingjstea>meni9. This, it goes without saying, will mean. Jess handling and ocwisequently cheaper freights, both inward and outwkrdv The bringing of SCX>-ton steamers; across the Wairau Bar, a project which the Harbor Board' hasi steadily/in view, will be a great stimulus to besides consid^ably Shortening the time at present occupied in the passage across the Strait®/ Side, by side with, this development must come railway extension and closer land settlement. The 'sooner,, therefore; Government of 'Wie day recognises tha^b Marlborougli cannot any longer! he neglected and treated ac a, factor .of no. consequence in New Zealiand'^Vpr^gress, the .sooner it; will commerice/^p do its fluty ;aiul mecrit, the confidence ;.of the Miairlboaiough; people. ■.:':^&:'.,da,y of tihe bilind eye and, /fih,^ deaf ©ar is past. Marlborough Qias come to realise that it counts foir isom©tliing, and will,take care thiat that knowledge is not kei>t bottled up <^ a da-r^conier shelf. The optimism perihea-ti^g the large gathering which asseVnbtlpd on Friday night to do homor to the' Mayor of Blenheim is assuredly a most healthy sign..