MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1935, Page 6

MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

There was considerable force in a statement made by Mr. R. W. D. Robertson at the inaugural meeting of the New Plymouth Central Progressive Association on Thursday. New Plymouth people, he said, “were undoubtedly apathetic with regard to local politics. Many small groups were struggling to do good work and probably were doing it, but cohesive effort was required.” It was made clear that the new association was not established to become a kind of super-critic of the borough council and its officers. Criticism is poor sustenance although it may provide excellent stimulus—not always healthy—to all parties concerned. But if the Central Association desires to justify its title of “Progressive” it must suggest improvements as well as criticise existing arrangements. The new organisation has the advantage of being established at a time when there is no municipal election to give cause for the creation of ephemeral groups of partisans with high-sounding names. It has come into being also at a time when local authorities are being asked to make a special endeavour to inaugurate civic works that will absorb the unemployed, and are promised considerable financial assistance by the Unemployment Board for such undertakings. Within the next six years the centenary of Taranaki will be celebrated, and plans for its worthy commemoration should be a subject in which a municipal association that has ?set out to be non-parOchial in views should be keenly interested. There is much that the Central Association can accomplish, if it will make consistent as well as vigorous effort its chief characteristic.