Northland As S.M. Sees It: Praise And Criticism

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1939, Page 3

Northland As S.M. Sees It: Praise And Criticism

“If the people had united rather than held parochial views, would not Northland have played a greater part in the coming Centennial celebrations?”

This question was addressed to members of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce at the quarterly general meeting last evening by Mr G. N. Morris, S.M.. on his impressions during his 10 years of experience as a magistrate in Northland. At the outset, Mr Morris said he would rather his address had been termed “some problems of progress in Northland.” He could have praised the North at length but he felt that he should deal with problems which should be met.

Imposing Sights,

“I don't want to talk like a guide book, but I have been impressed with the imposing sights.” he said. “About Trotinson Park, seen from the inside, there is something majestic, almost religious, the rounded trunks of the kauris having a resemblance to an organ in a church.” The view from Ahipara Hill, looking along the Ninety Mile Beach, and that from the heights of Pandora, were most imposing, while two other spots of particular beauty were Cooper’s Beach, near Mangonui, and Urquhart’s Bay, at the Whangarei Heads. Cradle of New Zealand. Apart from its scenery, there was the - history of the North, which was truly the cradle of New Zealand. He had been singularly fortunate in having this circuit, which was superior in its beauty to any other country circuit in New Zealand. However, tourists missed much of the beauty of the North because of lack of knowledge of the existence of its beautiful places.

The last 10 years had marked a period of transition. Road transport had helped in the development of such towns as Kaikohe, Kaeo, Kaitaia and Wellsford, which had become hubs from which roads radiated, while older towns had decayed. Kerikeri owed its development to “foreign capital,” development by moneyed people. Farmers’ Struggles.

“Passing along the roads of the North regularly during the past 10 years, I have become acquainted with the struggle of some of the farmers,” continued Mr Morris. Many of the people of the North had the true pioneer spirit of being content to leave their land a little improved for the generations which followed. Whangarei and Dargaville had had the advantage both ways in being ports and having x-oads. They had tended to go ahead, and there was no chance of their declining.

Healthy rivalry was necessary, and parochialism which was not synonymous should be avoided, if Northland was to progress.

“If the people had united rather than held parochial views, would not Northland have played a greater part in the coming Centennial celebrations?” he asked.