WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 119, 20 June 1941, Page 4

WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?

Sir,—As a visitor to your towr* from time to time I notice with regret that there seems to be an absence of public flower gardens or plots in the busy end of the town— or indeed anywhere, as far as I can see. Perhaps there is no room for flowers in Whakatane. I'f so, that is, E think, a pity. Other towns have managed somehow to sandwich in a few plots of flowers in odd places fronting busy streets.; course, some will say, is a busy town and does not **eed any flowers. Well then, it does seem a pity that a previous generation of citizens, when constructing the Strand did not make it wider so as to permit treefe or gardens in the middle (as in Te Puke), or else kept the shops on one side only so as to leave thei harbour side free for gardens (as at Taurang'a). Such features really do cnhance the appearance of those towns. However the street and the shops are there now, and your citizens will have to make the best of things. Perhaps your recently-elected council will find some places where flowers really can bes grown to delight the eyes of those passing by. I am told that there once was an active Beautifying Society in Whakatane which did goocl work, but is now somewhat like the Moa. That seems to bci the fate of beautifying societies. In some of the towns I have visited I am told thai the existence of flowers in the parks or in the vicinity of the streets is due to the Avork of beautifying committees! set up by the local bodiesconsisting of councillors and others interested in improving the appearance of the toAvn. Perhaps my mention of this will not be out of place here. In the meantime I fear that Whakatane is a town with few flowers. Some other towns even go to the extent of growing flowers as well as grass between the kerbs and the paved footpaths aloijg roads carrying through traffic. Quite a good idea, too, I think. Yours etc., VISITOR.