CIVIC SERVICE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 March 1929, Page 9

CIVIC SERVICE

NO ENCOURAGEMENT.

BUSINESS MEN SUFFER

APPEAL TO YOUNGER- MEN,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 1. In resigning from the Wellington Hospital Board- alter six years’ mem-ber-snip, including the chairmanship of committees, Mr. \Y. Appleton, a prominent Wellington business man, made significant remarks regarding the difficulty in rendering public service and expressing the hope that younger business men would be willing to take up public- work. He- said: “While on this -subject there is one point I would like to make; that is that the work of business men on the Hospital Board is not fully appreciated by their associates in business in this city. This applies not o-nly to the Hospital Board work, but to civic matters- generally. I regret to have to state- that it has -been iny experience that association with civic workmen in Wellington, and I have no doubt it also applies to other parts of the Dominion, acts detrimentally in regard to a man’s profession and the very fact that a man is prepared t - spend a -certain amount of his time in the public interest reacts to his disadvantage. Those who do business with him are too apt to think that he is neglecting his own concern for the sake of the -limelight. Leading commercial men in this city are constantly grumbling at the- increasing amount of rates and at the poor manner in which the business- affairs of the city are conducted. They have themselves to blame, for little or no encouragement is offered to any .young business man to come forward to offer his services. Judging by my own experience, if he does so lie is going to suffer in his. own calling. It is time that there was a better public appreciation of those citizens who come forward to do their duty aiid this -particularly applies to the commercial community. Wo have far too many armchair critics in our midst.”