Hutt Valley Fifty Thousand Club

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 9, 27 July 1938, Page 5

Hutt Valley Fifty Thousand Club

SIR ALEX ROBERTS LAUNCHES PROJECT

For some time past a small group of local businessmen have been of the opinion, that from a municipal point of view, the progress of the Hutt Valley has been somewhat neglected and not compatible with the many advantages it possesses and commensurate with the rapid settlement that is taking place. The' advent of the centennial in the near future demands 'that efforts be made to put the district on the map. It is with this object in view that a Fifty Thousand Club has been formed. The "Thousand Club" is no new idea in New Zealand; such cluba have been able to do very valuable work in many of the most progressive towns of the North Island. In OTder to secure first hand information the sponsors of this schcme, in May last, visited Napier for the purpose of obtaining particulars from the executive of the Thirty Thousand Club in that town. The greatest courtesy was shown to the deputation and they were greatly impressed with what had been done for the betterment of the community by the efforts of a small band of men and women imbued with the spirit of Civic Pride.

After exhaustive deliberation, it was felt that there was room for such an organisation to promote the inteTests and welfare of the Hutt Valley. The 50 thousand club was then formed with the following objects in viow. 1. To make the Valley an attractive centre by: — (a) Promoting or assisting to promote activity in the beautifying of the Valley, and the development of its natural resources. (b) Establishing ox assisting to establish accommodation for visitors including the erection of motor camps Co-operating with the Municipal bodies in any matter of benefit to the Valley. (d) Arranging .for the publication and dissemination of literature advertising the attractions of the Valley. (e) Making arrangements with the manufacturing concerns and the owners of beautiful gardens etc., to allow conducted tours through their properties. 2. To co-operate with other organisations in any objective of municipal signilicauce such as: : — (a) The rendering of assistance to the Centennial Committees requiring help from the Valley. (b) The co-ordination of the efforts of organisation in arranging galas or other entertainments of value to the district. Membership. The Club's membership is unlimited, a small annual subscription of 5/- each being levied in the case of ordinary members, while there is a provision for life members at a subscription of £2/2/- each. It is anticipated that the general public, business men and all interested in seeing their district go ahead, will be very keen to join up with the Club. General The Club is intended to be a noncritical body, formed for the purpose of establishing desirable objectives or assisting in that direction. It is furthermore essentially non-political in character. It is realised by the promoters that this "Club" idea means a good deal of voluntary and unremunerated work for those who are carrying out its executive functions. The Hutt Valley lias been limited -to very few persons of this calibre in the past, but it may be said that those who at present are interested in the activities of the • Club are prepared to go to much personal trouble to make the Club a success and our townships and the districts generally worthy assets to the Dominion. At the quarterly meeting of the Lower Hutt Chamber of Commerce held in the Horticultural Hall on Wednesday evening, the president Sir Alex. Roberts K.8.E., outlined the Club's objectives and expressed entire sympathy with its aims. The Mayor, Mr. J. W. Andrews, commended the promoters of the club for their enterprise in fostering a strong civic spirit. Mr. J. M. Carlson presided over a large attendance. The idea behind such a club was to foster a civic spirit, which every town and city should have highly developed, said Sir Alexander. They were faced in the near future with Lower Hutt attaining tho dignity of a city and it would be one of the main objectives of the club, with the assistance of Petone, to make Lower Hutt worthy of its position.

The idea of such a club was exemplified at Napier, where there was a 30,000 club, and the work accomplished there was most creditable. Could anyone knowing the desolation and chaos following the 1931 earthquake at Napier have .foreseen the transformation that had been achieved? To-day Napier had the most attractive waterfront in New Zealand, and practically all of this had been accomplished by the efforts of the 30,000 club, which organised entertainments, galas and other means of raising the necessary money. It should be realised at the start that the effort must be that of the citizens themselves, not of the local bodies. They wanted to see the Hutt Valley 's natural beauty developed and the best possible result produced from the excellent material there was. The efforts of the club must be self-support-ing. They must not decidc what to do and then ask the councils for money to do the work; they must do it themselves.' From the inception they should see to this. The councils were already under a heavy burden in providing the necessary services and too much could not be expected from them in the way of luxuries.

The growth of LoweT Hutt from a village to near a city in 25 years said a lot for the district, and that this progress came about in such a short period showed that the town had the attractions that brought residents. The club should in no way bring pressure to bear on the councils to spend money; they should do what was wanted themselves. No local body could spend money on amenities without the people having to pay. As long as the councils had to pay, so did the people. He could speak with feeling because he had received his rate notice two days before. However, as long as hq was allowed to live in such a place as the Hutt he would be glad to pay the rates. With the combined population of Petone and Lower Hutt the club would be already within striking distance of its objective, and it might well be that within a few years the name would have to be changed to the 100,000 club, said Sir Alexander. The following Executive has been elected: — President: Sir A. F. Roberts; Executive: Messrs E. S. Carey, J. N. Carlson, A. J. Gearing, W. Gregory, W. H. Smith, N. Liebezeit; Mayors of Lower Hutt and Petone; thTee other members to'fae elected. Hon. secretary and treasurer: Mr. L. V. Phillips; hon. solicitor: Mr N. T. Gillespie; registered office: 83 High Street, Lower Hutt. An Executive meeting of the FityThousand Club was held on Monday morning when the following sub-com-mittees were set up:— * A. Far the collation of historical data and preparation of itinerary of tourist attractions, historical spots, homes and factories to be visited. B. Beautiiication of towns and environs. C. Motor camp accommodation.! D. Collective entertainment. E. Special efforts. « F. Finance.