Makara’s Problems

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 64, 9 December 1936, Page 13

Makara’s Problems

Sir, —May I ask what' has become of the Makara electric light movement? Last year, to make the voices of our citizens heard, we formed a ratepayers’ association. I attended most of these meetings and thoroughly enjoyed the lively discussions, and pictured that much good would come out of this enthusiastic body. At these meetings 'it was unanimously agreed that the most pressing need in the district, if farming is to be successful, is electric light and power. The Hutt Power Board had crossed us off the map years ago, so a special committee was set up to search the world for this essential adjunct to progress. We just felt that the success of our farming in these times depended entirely on modern facilities and that we must get away from the backward state of affairs pertaining naw. This committee canvassed the whole district, a fairly big task, and met with a hundred per cent, result. Hope was in our hearts at last. This petition was put into the hands of the Makara County Council for further development, and I believe this body felt -that at last here was a real opportunity to do something worth while for this backward and neglected area. They set to work with such enthusiasm and vim that they simply died on the job one by one, and we were left wondering. Just when we were giving up in despair, a new ray of hope eame to us. This same committee, called on us again, this time for definite guarantees, and from what I hear these were willingly given. But here we are again left in mid-air. If the powers-that-bo would say definitely that “the roses are not for Makara to pick,” then we could possibly look round for some alternative. Conditions as they exist here to-day are unbearable, especially as we, in our daily contact with our city cousins, see such glaring contrasts of comfort and convenience in the matter of a mile. Hoping for better treatment, we changed our political creed, but find that these politicians are about as helpful as the last. We simply don’t exist. Hoping to hear of some definite result very soon.—l am, etc.,

IN DESPAIR.