COMMON INTERESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 113, 16 May 1939, Page 17

COMMON INTERESTS

PAEKAKARIKI AND TAWA FLAT

The year had seen a very favourable advance in the matter of co-operation with other districts, particularly Paekakariki, stated the annual report of the Tawa Flat Ratepayers' and Progressive Association, which was presented to the annual meeting recently.

"The common needs of the whole district brought the associations in the two places together to discuss the railway service, and though there were points upon which the associations were not of one mind there were others in which it was felt there could be co-operation," the report continued. "Accordingly, it was resolved to petition the Minister of Railways only for those improvements which the whole larger district was unanimous about. A petition asking for three improvements was circulated round the district and the Minister haa been asked to receive a deputation.

"The committee is very pleased to report that after many months' delay the piece of bush reserve previously owned by Mr. J. W. Mexted, Fahautanui, has been transferred to the Crown and now becomes a public reserve. The thanks of the whole district are due to Mr. Mexted for this gift, and it is hoped that later on there may be a suitable opportunity of publicly proclaiming our indebtedness to him.

"As the work of the year is reviewed it becomes evident that the association is doing its utmost to further the interests of Tawa Flat and to aid in its development. The process, however, is slow, and the approaches to governing bodies such as the CountyCouncil and the Railway Department have not met with quite the response that was desired. Thus it becomes essential that, when the voice of the association is heard, there shall be an even greater weight of public opinion behind it. and accordingly it is urgently desirable that the active support of every resident of Tawa Flat be given to the association.

"The committee would like to make special reference to the work of Mr. L. G. Lowry. M.P.. who in the past has so willingly and ably assisted us in all our undertakings. We know that his support has enabled this district to progress when it would otherwise have remained almost stationary."

The election of officers resulted:— Patron, Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P.; president, Mr, S. Duncan; vice-presidents, Mrs. Hook, Messrs. Turkington and Nairn: honorary secretary, Mr. P. Clark: honorary treasurer, Mr. G. Lightfoot; committee, Messrs. Wright, Hurst. Davenport, Tirrell, and Corney; honorary solicitor. Mr. W. P. Rollings; honorary auditor. Mr. A. H. Carman; publicity officer, Mr. G. Bennett.