The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1930. COMMUNITY INTERESTS.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 November 1930, Page 4

The Hawera Star .

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1930. COMMUNITY INTERESTS.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'clock In Havrera, Manaia, Kaupokonni. Otakeho, Geo. Pibama. Opnnake, Normanby. Okaiawa Elttaam, Ngaere, Man&atoki, Kaponga, Awatana,' Te Kiri, Mahoe. Lowtrarvh, Manutahi Kakaramea. Alton. Hurler vilie Patoa, Whenuakura, Waverley. ttlokoia, Whakamara, Ohamrai, Mereinere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

Not the least interesting feature of the mooting held last night to hear the address delivered by Mr F. AV. Horner, president of the Hawcra Chamber of Commerce, was the presence of members of the public, including representatives of the country districts. It was a happy idea on the part of the Hawcra Chamber to throw the meeting, open to the public, and it is to be hoped that that act will be but the 'forerunner of other similar efforts to bring together all sections of the community. From time to time men have expressed the view that some central body is needed in South Taranaki in order to provide the nucleus of an organisation available for use when the public desires “something to be done.” Progress Leagues, ratepayers’ associations and similar semi-official institui t ions have been mooted from time to I time, but they have never boon brought | into existence. The failure of such ideas to materialise into action has not, perhaps, been a matter for regret, for it is possible to have too many such organisations in any town, large or small. But the need for organisation of some kind does exist, not only for Hawcra, but for South Taranaki, and it is gratifying to find a desire within the Chamber of Commerce to provide the nucleus of such an institution. Provided the requisite amount of enthusiasm is shown and a broad view i taken, there is no reason why the Chamber should not grow into an organisation embracing the interests of ,the whole of South Taranaki, of value equally to the farmer and the retailer as to the commercial man. The trend everywhere to-day is to “get together’’—not for the exchange of sentimental platitudes and for mutual ad--1 miration, but for the saving .of costs, for the increasing of efficiency and the avoidance of overlapping. The Asso-i

ciated Chambers of Commerce have recently linked up with the Taxpayers' Federation and the 1928 Committee, and the joint body has appointed its own organiser. This organiser will do much more than get in subscriptions; he will assist all sections of the organisation to obtain information, and protect and improve their conditions. By keeping its identity as a Chamber of Commerce, but extending its activities to embrace the interests of all sections of the community with a stake in the place, the Hawera Chamber can provide the district with an organisation capable of making its voice heard throughout the country. No Government ignores the Associated Chambers of Commerce Conference, which has always been distinguished by its preference for "hard facts" rather than for mere rhetoric, and yet it is possible for the smallest Chamber in the country to bring its problems before that conference and, if they are substantiated, they become the problems of the Associated Chambers. It cannot be denied that there is a value to Hawera and its surrounding rural areas in such an organisation. The only grounds upon which its value could be denied are, (1) that the ratepayers, taxpayers, farmers and business men of this district have no problems, or (2) that they have no desire to do anything about such problems as they possess. It is contended by some that retailers and farmers represent two sections of the community that would not be interested I 1 in the extension of the Chamber’s activities. Such a view' could be held only by those who hold that the representatives of those two sections are not as vitally and as intelligently interested in the affairs of the community, and of the Dominion, as the others. The Introduction of new support from the country and from the retailers would enable the Chamber to widen its scope of service, while the Chamber, through its affiliations, could certainly provide the district with a united voice of increased carrying capacity on all subjects of mutual interest.