OTOROHANGA—ENTERPRISE.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 101, 12 April 1912, Page 2

OTOROHANGA—ENTERPRISE.

IF the first meeting of the newlyformpd Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce can be taken as a criterion of the. policy that organisation intends to . pursue, then it must be evident , to all those who are more or less interested that its inauguration will be of much importance in the building up of the township and district of Otorohanga. One of its first endeavours is a most worthy one, and must commend itself to the whole of the residents of Otorohanga and Te Awamutu and the adjacent districts. We refer to the need of direct telephone communication between those towns. Underthe existing conditions Te Awamutu can only connect with the King Country by wires which pass through Hamilton, and this, which oftentimes necessitates tiresome delays in making the connections, is most unsatisfactory to all. As only four miles of construction are necessary, there should be but little Departmental objection to the representations of the Otorohanga Chamber. We trust that this matter will be adequately backed up by the local Chamber, as it is one which seriously affects our business relations with our sister town. Another matter brought forward was the need of a morgue in Otorohanga. It is a matter for regret that such a building should be required, but if the experience of the past ten months counts for anything then such a building is required, and required at once. During that time no less than five deaths have occurred, necessitating the holding of an inquest, and for the necessary space of time the bodies, for want of a more suitable building, have of necessity had to be deposited in the police cell. It seems out of place that a person who has lived a respectable and lawabiding lifei and never hitherto been within the prison cells should, because of his sudden or accidental death, and through his home not being at hand, have to be placed in such quarters after his demise. It has been stated that plans are being prepared for a new police station and the Chamber hopes to see provision made for the erection of a suitable outbuilding. There should be no .difficulty in providing the necessary room if representations are made in the proper quarter, and before -the erection of the new police station is put in hand.