EN AVANT, OTAGO.

Evening Star, Issue 16629, 11 January 1918, Page 4

EN AVANT, OTAGO.

TO THE EDITOR. j Sir, —l read with interest your article headed as above, and I was much interested in tho letter appearing in your last night’s issue over the initials “E. 8.8.” Ib it not time that wo folks in this province faced tho position in the correct light, and instead of blaming tho other fellow, blamed ourselves ? Tho City Council are blamed for the want of organisation and progressiveness in local politics, and our parliamentary representatives throughout Otago for lack of interest in then- constituencies. Can you expect anything else ■when tho average citizen of the province does not bother himself to find out what’s wrong? Tlie weakness is staring each and every one of us in the face. Ib is lack of interest; yet it seems that ono cannot arouse sufficient interest to rectify the matte?. Tho man in tho street is always growling that Dunedin is dead; but ask him what he is doing to kick life into it again, and ho frankly admits he is doing nothings and. never has. With this position to face, what can ono expect? Let mo say, as one who was born and hrcdjn Otago, that I am convinced that our province has not yet started to live, and never ■will unless wo get out and do something. Wo must educate the people by proper methods. First of all, let us put some life into tho Expansion League, and this can only be bo done by reorganisation from top to bottom, making the organisation an Otago one, instead of purely in tho interests of Dunedin. When this is done, let us call a conference of delegates from the whole province (excluding Southland in fho meantime, because it is already well organised) to decide on a common policy both politically and economically. When our ‘policy is decided on, let us get out into the country districts and tell them what Otago requires, and by Insistent demand upon tbo Government obtain it. If Otago stands shoulder to shoulder in one united body its voice will be heard in Wellington, and, when heard, Wellington will bo compelled to sit up and take notice. We also want to co-operate with that very live body, the Southland League, and by mutual understand work together. This understanding can bo brought about by a conference with Southland- At tho present time, I regret to say, Otago i* a nouse divided against itself. Otago is not as sympathetic to Southland as it should he, and Southland naturally resents this attitude, I have studied the question of Otago v. Southland, and I can confidently say the whole position is imagination, and I am satisfied that a frank discussion between Dunedin and Invercargill will not only wipe out the misunderstanding, but make the province unite for the good of all; and when Otago, from the Wnitaki River to Stewart Island, demands justice from its citizens and the central Government Otago will go ahead all right.—l am, etc., S. B. Macdonald. January 11.