“MOVE OR GROOVE”; THE CHOICE OFFERED TO CITY OF WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 September 1950, Page 4

“MOVE OR GROOVE”; THE CHOICE OFFERED TO CITY OF WANGANUI

More than 170 electors attended a luncheon on lhe Rutland hotel yesterday to hear an address by Mr. A- C. Seivewright, who has consented to contest the Wanganui mayoralty at the forthcoming municipal election. Mr. Seivewright, with characteristic originality, illustrated his address by means of appropriately worded cards, neatly printed and hung on a dark background. These provided heading* for tlie address and served to emphasise the sequence of its salient features. The chair was taken by the Deputy Mayor (Cr. R. E. Jack), who briefly introduced the speaker. Mr. Seivewright entitled his address “Move or Groove,’ ’and began by saying that Wanganui could have tlie future it would like. What it needed was new ideas, new drive and vitality. Just as in business the city should constancy look to the future, to have in training the young people, men who had fought in the war, who had seen other cities run, who wanted to do what they could for their own, trained for the job. He said that people needed incentive. Wanganui had the advantages, the citizens to do the job. What they wanted were ideas, a fresh outlook. Dealing with the cultural life of the city, he said that there was no reason why this should not become a university city, nor why it should not develop a Conservatorium of Music. Both were objects weil worth striving for. He regarded the Mayor as a coordinator, one who had ideas, who delegated tasks to various members o£ the council, to societies and to individuals. Mr. Seivewright pointed to the establishment of Greyhound Buses Ltd. as proving what could be done where people had the will to succeed. ,'When we went along as the first deputation to the City Council we had nothing," he said. “Today we are able to handle something between £60,000 and £70,000.” The speaker also referred to the successful revival of the Wanganui Competitions Society, to the enthusiasm of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in reviving “Puffing Billy.” Such activities as these were evidence of a desire to help Wanganui, and all that was needed was co-ordination and leadership, ideas. _He appealed to those present to give their wholehearted support to a new drive for Wanganui, a drive aimed at lifting it back to its former proud position as the fifth city of the Dominion. “These things can be done,” he said if we start off with the will to do them. If I get the chance I will give Wangan'ui ”° USk ° £ improvin 8 A vote of thanks was moved by Mr N. G. Armstrong and carried by acclamation. 3