WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND?

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 September 1930, Page 4

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND?

(To the Editor.) Sir,- I—AVil! 1 —AVil! you, kindly allow me a little space in the “Hawera Star” to say a lew words in connection with the meeting of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce held on Friday last. On reading the report as furnished by your paper I could not help thinking what a “dog-in-the-manger” attitude was adopted at that meeting in relation to the South Island. The first “shot,” which emanated from this little group of “pop-guns” was aimed at the socalled “huge expenditure” proposed for the completion of the Soutn Island Main Trunk railway so as to link up the whole length of that Island with the North Island. The members, evidently being sq inspired by the stirring speeciies made at the supposed maladministration of the Government by spending so much money on this line, tnat they passed a remit of censure and thought they should assist to try bring pressure to bear to stop this work. Now, sir, I maintain that not ■one of these gentlemen's qualifications entitled them to make such criticism as given out in your paper. It is afl piffle and hot air to say the line will not pay, that has yet to be by practical results, and there are many level-headed persons who are just as confident that if will pay. We can ail make guesses and wild and woolly assertions concerning this line, but when it comes to concrete facts, and these arm-chair critics realise that- their assertions have been far astray, where do we find these wise-acres ? One does, not find many of them throwing bouquets to replace the brick that they have previously thrown. Ido not say that this line will be a financial success, to say it will or will not is only guessing, but there are many advantages that can accrue from this work when completed that, cannot be counted in fj.s.d., and I think it very bad taste for those people who are enjoying an advantage to try and chip in and deny that same advantage to other citizens who in the past have been less fortunate. There is no doubt to my mind that a Main Trunk railway running right through the two islands is an asset and must be classed as a distinct advantage, resulting eventually in closer settlement and therefore fostering greater production, which would probably compensate for any loss (should any occur) in running this Main Trunk line through both islands. However, the Hawera Chamber of Commerce in their parochial wisdom have decreed otherwise. They could not stop at this, as they counterflanked an attack on the Government subsidy to the BluffMelbourne steamer service and decided to frame a remit of protest. Poor South Island, how it must suffer in being attacked thus! The thing is so absurd that one is amazed at their attitude. What is wrong with the South Island? Are the taxpayers in that island to be debarred any means of assistance in their future development, whilst all the plums are to be distributed in the North Island? According to some of the views expressed at the meeting the speakers seemed to wish to convey the idea that the North Island, Taranaki in particular, was the only place on the map. One has only got to measure up their “dog-in-the-manger attitude by the way they endorsed the remit from the Taranaki Chamber in connection with the Opaku ... Reserve because an outside body wished \ to <put to a useful purpose capital that T the local bodies failed to use. I do w / not blame them in shepherding this endowment, and pardon their squeak when an attempt is made to wrest this from the district; but I certainly think their action most inconsistent and fail to see how they can justify their attitude in attempting to do what they are up in arms against for others attempting the same thing. Morally there may be a distinction without a difference. Surely the chamber should be able to find sufficient matter needing attention without travelling so far afield, and I trust these few words of protest at the “dogin the manger” attitude adopted will result in their early change of viewpoint. Thanking vou for space,—l am FROM THE SOUTH.