TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays WEDNESDAY, 15th SEPTEMBER, 1948 TRUE CITIZENSHIP DENIED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6566, 15 September 1948, Page 6

TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays WEDNESDAY, 15th SEPTEMBER, 1948 TRUE CITIZENSHIP DENIED

IT would be difficult to say whether people of Te Awamutu are well satisfied with the various phases of public administration in the borough and district, or whether they are apathetic and selfishly indifferent. Tn any case, scant interest is evidenced in meetings which serve as the barometer of public opinion. Recently a speaker journeyed all the way from Auckland to 'discuss a very important civic problem and to explain modern methods and tendencies; only seven citizens; apart from local body representatives, troubled to attend the meeting. On another occasion, for a project designed to better the recreational facilities, only the president and the secretary attended. Even the Chamber of Commerce was accorded the presence of only one retailer at its last monthly meeting, the representation being of those who are not in the distributive business. Hardly surprising was the comment offered by the Transport Licensing Authority that a spirit of apathy was noticeable in an otherwise progressive borough. It is a strange anomaly and a signal defect which leaves the prevalent question whether it registers indifference or complacency. The latter is not borne out by the wayside criticisms so frequently heard. Only recently a lady—-a new comer—was overheard to complain that the older residents clung tenaciously to the public administrative office and that the new-comers were banned; but there is nothing to indicate the correctness of either claim. Very certainly ample opportunities are open for the nc-w-comers to enter through voluntary organisation; and prove themselves worthy of public confidence in the elective positions. It is, however, a sorry state of affairs in which there is so much to be attempted by organisation and collective effort, and so few who willingly share in the shaping of popular decisions and the carry'ng through of public policy. A healthy discontent, a cross-section of opinion, and a collective decision must remain as the starting-point for every form of public endeavour. The constituent method is the properly organised and considered meeting as the marshalling point of opinion and the delegation of authority to embark on projects which give rise to the acceptance of responsibility. That citizenship gives the right of expression can be regarded as a privilege which should not be lightly regarded, and it is surely a defect if privilege is neglected. Allowing that individual sendee and efficiency within each and every business makes for the collective efficiency of a trading centre, there remain also those varied responsibilities which the community as a whole must undertake if the service of a town is to be made complete. No matter how efficient the individaul business may be, there arise around that business facilities and services which cannot be i eglected. The public responsibility is the collective scheme, and in that each and every citizen shares alike. There is the need for endless striving | and w’ell-applied endeavour. Apathy and indifference will cause much that is desirable to be deferred, and can result in much opportunity being lost. The progress of public movements in Te Awamutu in recent months, as shown by interest and attendance at meetings, has not been healthy; even it has been suggestive of a badly-timed avoidance of responsibility. Our citizenship can, and must, account itself more worthily if I public welfare is to be upheld.