PUBLIC OPINION

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1938, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

M. J. McMINN,

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS THE JOHURA DOMAIN REPLY TO MR. DENNISON (To the Editor.) Sir.— Evidently Mr. Dennison is now on the defensive according to his letter in the Taranaki Daily News on July 15. According to the records in the "archives" it has been discovered that the Domain Board came into existence either in the reign of Edward VII or in that of Queen Victoria, and since then there has been no popular election. Many years ago a worthy citizen o£ Ohura, at a public meeting challenged the Domain Board members to stand down and be members through public vote, but needless to mention the Domain Board did not then or at any futur* date accept the challenge. I herewitih repudiate various statements made by Mr. Dennison. The Ohura Valley Retailers' Association has not at any time "tried to cause friction" between local bodies. At various times the Town Board has requested control of the recreation ground, parks, etc., but without success. Has Mr. Dennison forgotten about the letters the secretary of the Ohura Valley Retailers' Association wrote requesting the Domain Board to take steps to improve and beautify the domain areas? Did not a Domain Board member first promdse that the ateas suggested by the retailers would be improved, and then "back down"? Perhaps Mr. Dennison forgot that too. Later the. retailers were informea that "they were upsetting the even tenor of their lives" (meaning Domain Board members' lives, as they apparently possessed neither the inclination nor the urge for energy). Were not the two Domain Board meetings called in a "half-hearted fashion," hoping that no one would turn up? 'For the second meeting, so I was informed by telephone, an important member of the Domain Board "was conflned to his room ilL" His recovery must have been speedy, as five minutes la|pr I myself saw him walking in the rain without an overcoat.

Regarding noxious weeds, cannot Mr. Dennison recall remonstrating with an employee of the Town Board for endeavouring to eradicate some blackberry, which the Domain Board would have preferred to remain for beautifying purposes? I would like to question the statement that the domain is freei ofnoxious weeds than the Town Board lands, as only the possessor of a pair of thigh-length gumboots and old clothes has much chance of exploring the domain lands in order to compare them with the Town Board lands. One section ^eferred to by Mr. Dennison and discussed by our association may be "under the jurisdiction of the Town Boartl,' but that, as yet has not been definitely decided, as there are grave doubts about it. But in the event of it belonging to the Town Board our association feels confident that something will be done in the matter of beautifying it. May I ask Mr. Dennison . whether the river section from Road Bridge to Railway Bridge comes under the jurisdiction of the Town Board? Our association requested that it be cleaned up, drained, and a few seats scattered here and there to make it an attractive place for old and young to spend their leisure hours. Regarding playgrounds, the only ground available is a football field which can hardly be called a children's play-' ground. What about the section beside the bowling green, also about nine acres at the tennis court at present leased out by tlie Domain Board? We can appreciate Mr. Dennison's love of the beautiful native bush in the camping ground, but it is doubtful whether it is carried into practice judging by the way the bush has been permitted to be destroyed by lorries making roads through the scenic reserve to obtain metal from the river. I expect the royalty is of more importance than the riative bush. It is now impossible for people to enter this bush owing to the state of the drives caused by the lorries. Mr. Dennison's remark that only two men were available locally shows that he has neglected to inquire what labour was available. Mr. Dennison has replied promptly through the Daily News. If the same. prqpoptness had been given to our other previous requests, I would not have recommended placing the matter before the Town Board, as all our association desires is to improve and beautify the town, considering the Government has generously granted free money for this work. But it appears that the Domain Toard members' "hands are too full" with other municipal affairs to accept free money that our present Government is offering for such improvements.— I am, etc.,

President, Ohura Valley Retailers Assn. Ohura, July 17.