THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1911. AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10436, 29 September 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1911. AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON.

In a. recent issue of the "Age," comment was made upon the "masterful inactivity" of Wellington mercantile houses concerning the trade of the lower portion of the North Island. The object of the article wasi to;6how that Wellington, iby its (failure to adopt measures to imp-rove the railway communication Ibetween the seaport,and;the Wairarapa, was encouraging the diversion of trade to Auckland. It is .somewhat remarkable that it should be found necessary by certain Auckland houses, which have (branches in Wellington, to characterise the assertion as "absurd." That is quite a, convenient and simple method of allaying the apprehensions of the ibusiness men of the Empire CSty concerning the results' of their apathy. It is no answer, however, to a statement of fact, made in a Ibonn fide .manner, and with no other object than to quicken the tradespeople of Wellington, to a sense* of tlieir responsibility in the .matter of railway communication with the outlying districts. It is an. undeniable fact that Auckland business: firms laiv at present issuing circular pricelist? to farmers in the Forty-Mile Bush, and that orders are being sent to Auckland which should, under ordinary 'circumstances, go to : Wellington. On this point we .are in. possession of absolute proof. Moreover, on more than one occasion of late th? aggravating delays in the transit of goods over the Rdmutaka railway has caused settlers to send their orders to Auckland. In one case, it took eight days to obtain from Wellington a. piece of machinery that could teve Ibeen obtained (from Auck-

lane, in two or three. The Wairarapa has. 'been protesting in season and out of season against the treatment it receives from the Railway Department. It lias implored tlie Government to deviate the Kiknnitaka railway, and thus bring the country districts into * closer touch with the seanboard. And what has been the attitude of Wellington merchants and of the Wellington Ohamber of Commerce in tlie matter ? They have remained silent throughout the piece. Then look at the attitude of Welliaigton in regard to the movement for the MastertonWaipukurau railway, which was designed to bring Hawko's Bay and black-fblocks trade closer to the city. What did the Empire City do to help along that project ? What has it done to impress upon the powers that be the importance of pushing o<i a* ail way communication between Napier arilT Gfisborne, and thus opening up a vast area of East Coast territory? Contrast the apathy and inactivity of Wellington in .(these matters with the progressive and wideawake spirit of Auckland. Why, the northern city is extending its business operations with relentless assiduity. Many of its houses send travellers into the Wellington Province, and, while the Empire City is sleeping, the Queen. City is capturing the East Coast trade right through to Napier. It is even now, an 'spite of the statements made to the contraiy, invading the Wiairarapa. If Wellington is not to be hopelessly left in- the race for trade, it will' require to iarouse itself from its slumber, and use ©very legitimate means t'j improve the railway communication with, those outlying districts upon fwihich it depends ■so largely for its isustenance. It may suit the Auckland "merchants to cry "Peace! Peaoe!" the while they are exploiting the North Island from North Cape to Palliser Bay. The future of Wellington w-ould he more assured if its people showed even ,a passing interest in. the welfare of -those to whom they look for trade and support.