THE 50,000 CLUB

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 2

THE 50,000 CLUB

ADVANCING THE CITY. The Palmerston North 50,000 Club hnsbeen making progress during tl two months along various lines ana »* are able to give some information to our readers about its operations. Hi toiler for two Sundays running I® attendances of citizens and v's viewed the cherry trees at the Esp ade, due partly to the publicity gi the blossoms in the Press of i a !® e . " ston North and Wellington. The Manways Department collaborated with ti club in so far as Wellington publuiit;j was concerned. At the Golden Jubile Spring Show the club made a display of photographs of the city from and was assisted by the City Council and C. M. Ross Co., Ltd., wdio provided the photographs. Plans of the district were also exhibited and a descriptive folder was distributed, anu members enrolled. In support of punlicity through t he Press it is hoped to draw added attention to the amenities, splendid geographical location, and unrivalled position of Palmerston North as a distributing centre through the use of folders, a talking movie picture, maps, and a descriptive booklet. By tile above means it is hoped to attract manufacturers and bring before people the claims of the city and district more than lias been done in the past. Other matters that have been given attention include improved transport to Palmerston North from a wider district. In this connection the club lias inquired about the road from laihape to Palmerston North, portion of which lias been in very bad order. It lias learnt that the Public Works Department has this in hand and that the ltangitikei County Council’s contribution is £2OOO towards the cost of the work. The road from Makerua through Opiki has also engaged the club’s attention and it is hoped to have something definite to report at an early date. Another proposal of the club is that of planting the main entrances to the city with avenues of trees. The various local bodies have been approached and encouraging replies yeceived. A handsome donation towards the cost has already been made. The club has also made overtures to the City Council regarding an Art Gallery and Museum and it is proposed to set up a committee to go into the question of providing this very necessary adjunct to the city. The fitting celebration of the city’s 60 years as a borough has also engaged the attention of the club, and a conference with the City Council and Kairanga County Council will shortly bo called for the purpose of putting matters in train for the celebrations in 1937. The M. and W.C. A. and P. Association heartily welcomed the request of the club that it should allow 3 members of the club to link up with its committee. Messrs Jackson (president), Townsliend and Clark have taken their seats as members' of the show committee and their assistance can be relied upon by tile association. It lias often been deplored by citizens that when a public holiday comes along there is “nothing on” in the city—the races, sports, etc., are somewhere else. On January 22 next there will he much to engage the attention of Palmei'stoninns. On that day the Australia v. Manawatu cricket match opens, the N.Z. croquet championship tournament opens in Palmerston North, the Ashhurst races will lie held, howling and tennis clubs will he holding tournaments, and possibly there will be an electric light swimming carnival at the municipal baths at night. It is also hoped to arrange a carnival week during next Winter Show by having racing (trotting and gallops), boxing and wrestling-—something on the lines of the carnival week in Christchurch.

It will be seen that the club is endeavouring to make Palmerston North even more attractive to residents, .to encourage the establishment of secondary industries, to foster sport, to improve the educational facilities, and in everv wav possible get a population of 50,000 people in the city sooner than if no interest was taken in the growth of the city.

The club has also gone into the mat-, ter of aviation and was privileged to inspect the plans of buildings and layout generally of the Milson airport. There can be no doubt that Palmerston North will before long be the “Croydon” of New Zealand and just as it is the largest railway junction so will it be the largest and busiest airport. The club is quite alive to the great advantage this will mean to the city and proposes to do all in its power to assist in this great effort, and feels that the support of the public will be assured in any effort that may jbe undertaken to this end. It is not the function of the club to take over the duties of any existing body, but rather to support the efforts being made along any particular line. It is, however, out to assist the growth of the city and district and to advance and expand its potentialities, and in this it lias a wide field of effort awaiting it. The citizens and district residents can assist materially by becoming members of the club and thus show that they take a personal interest in the city and district’s future progress.