Waipawa’s Claims

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 282, 12 November 1936, Page 6

Waipawa’s Claims

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Although I am not a resident of Waipawa, I am a keen admirer of it and would be most grateful if you would allow me a little of your valuable space to enable me to express my views as to what I consider the unfair treatment that is meted out to this, one of the oldest towns in Hawke's Bay and one whose history is closely associated with the earliest happenings of the province.

Waipawa residents are too apathetic about their town; they have placidly watched one public institution after another go to Waipukurau. It has not been a sudden change, but, river-like, a gradual encroachment year after year. Indeed, it ia really some of her own people that have done most to stem her progress. Mention “saleyards” to some of her loyal old pioneers and they will tell you how short-sightedness ruined the prospects of a progressive, flourishing little town. Now Waipukurau hopes to be the site of the Central Hawke's Bay High School, but the people of Waipawa must leave no stone unturned in an effort to get their town as the chosen one, for this would give to Aroipawa that vital urge which it needs to lift ft out of that slough of despond into which it has fallen, It is a delightful little place, and .1 have often stood on the hill-road and admired its pretty vistas. I have wondered, too, why some of its early families ever allowed such a charming spot not to progress. So much for the sentimental side of the question; now for the practical.

There are hundreds of thousands of pounds invested in Waipawa, for there are many exceptionally nice homes with all kinds of modern conveniences. Are the property-holders and business men of the town going to allow their assets gradually to dwindle away, or are they, ere it is too late, going to rouse themselves and become town-conscious. They could petition, do anything, for they must not let their District High School go, and, if passible, they must get the consolidated school established in Waipawa. If their member is neglectful and favours Waipukurau, why not put him out next election? Surely, for the good of the town they could bury their political hatchet and find some man, whether he be Labour or Reform, on whom they could rely to push Waipawa’s barrow before it becomes hopelessly bogged in the quagmire of the past. K

Waipawa has contributed thousands of pounds in Government taxes over a long period of years. Indeed, her contributions to the Privy Purse during all these years would quite possibly compare more than favourably with those of Waipukurau. Yet what have her members ever had done for her? If there were plums to be picked Waipukurau got them all. What of the Post Office and the Railway Station—are they not a disgrace to a selfrespecting town? After long years of patient waiting, Waipawa is to get a new primary school, so I hear. There may be some justification for the centralisation of the business community, but an educational institution is a thing apart. Eton, Oxford or any other great seat of learning were not placed so as to be near the Bank of England or the weekly market place. Coming back to our own little spot, Waipawa is ideally situated because of its'geographical position to be the educational centre of Central Hawke’s Bay. So wake up, Waipawa I W-hy should not you arise Phoenix-like oiit of the ashes of your former progressive past into the self-respecting town that such a charming place should be.—Yours,.etc., “LUX.” Waipawa, Nov, 10, 1936.