The Te Aroha News Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1923 MINISTERIAL VISITS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6421, 29 November 1923, Page 4

The Te Aroha News Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1923 MINISTERIAL VISITS

MINISTERIAL yisits to country towns are usually few and far between. Consequently the greatest possible use should be made of them. Full benefit should be extracted if the town visited is not to suffer as compared with other more pushful comniunities. It is sometihies taken for granted that a Minister of the Crown or member of Parliament is fully cognisant of the most pressing requirements of a town or district. This is not always so, nor can it be entirely expected. Even if a general knowledge is possessed the particular points that assist in enabling a true and satisfactory judgment are sometimes lacking. This is one of the chief advantages of a well selected deputation. It is able to give the knowledge and view of the matter essential to a wise decision. There is another aspect of the value of a good deputation which was illustrated in the last election campaign of the late Sir William Herries. Sir William was asked by a questioner, in a country district, if he would assist in securing the enlargement of the local school, which was ovkr-crowded. In reply our late member asked the questioner if the request had been prviously made to him. Though the matter was more or less urgent it had been left to election time. Ministers and members of Parliament are often blamed for their want of interest in and cognisance of the needs of parts of their constituencies whereas as indicated by the reply of Sir William Herries the blame, if any, rested on the local people concerned in the school. A number of town and country local bodies and societies have urgent requirements that must ultimately come before Ministers of the Crown. As two Ministers visit Te Aroha on Monday advantage should be taken of the opportunity presented. Te Aroha and its magnificent district does not receive throughout the Dominion the recognition its importance deserves. It is the duty and

privilege of our public bodies not only to put Te Aroha “on the map” but also to see that it is put there in letters that will not be overlooked.