CAN WHAKATANE GIVE GALATEA BETTER SERVICE?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 85, 11 May 1949, Page 5

CAN WHAKATANE GIVE GALATEA BETTER SERVICE?

After reading the comments and hopes expressed in regard to the development of Murupara as viewed from the Whakatane viewpoint the people of Galatea are wondering when they too are goin to receive a little attention, writes the Bea-

con’s Galatea representative. It is gratifying to them to learn of the proposed development of Murupara and this will, no doubt, affect the future of Galatea. In fact, it seems to be causing quite a bit of hold-up in Galatea already, one way and another. However, whilst not grudging Murupara one iota of its expansion Galateans feel it should also be remembered that Galatea has been and continues to be, greatly expanded. Murupara does have trade with Whakatane but it would seem that this is but a fraction of the trade brought by the people of Galatea. After all, they claim, Murupara cannot hope to compare with Galatea as a farming community, and in this latter business alone Galatea has spent thousands of pounds in the last few years and the figures have reached the tens of thousands mark when one considers the number of tractors, cars, farm appliances, etc., which have been bought in Whakatane even in the last few months. Better Road to Rotorua Even when Murupara is extended, it will still be on the main Rotorua route with a daily bus service, such as exists now, which is much more convenient than the thrice weekly service to Whakatane. Another thing which will influence the use of this road is the proposed tar-sealing of the Kaingaroa Plains stretch of the road. This will certainly be far more appealing to travellers than the not-so-good corrugated. rogd to Whakatane. The tar-sealing of the road will bring Rotorua even nearer as so much time will be saved on the trip. The extension of Murupara. will bring thousands more people into the district, but these will mean increases in the more personal type of shopping of which Rotorua, with all due to respect to Whakatane, can give a far more varied selection.

However, the people of Galatea bring more than their personal shopping to Whakatane—they bring their farm business. The newcomers to Murupara will, in the main, be working for the mills, but the people of Galatea will continue to be the farmers with all the equipment and supplies that a farmer needs. Where the others spend £5 the farmer will be spending £SO and more.

Improved Mails Needed One thing which helps to make some people more in favour of Rotorua is the fact that a better mail service exists to there than there does to Whakatane. This is a big factor, as it means that supplies can be obtained from Rotorua, by mail, in practically the time that the original letter is taking to get to Whakatane. An improved and direct mail service to Whakatane from Murupara and Galatea would be a big boon to the district and another asset to the town of Whakatane.

The telephone will naturally bring the district into closer contact with Whakatane, but it should be remembered that it will do the same for Rotorua, and it would seem that before very long there is going to be a “Battle of the Cities” between Rotorua and Whakatane. Road Deciding Factor

However, the deciding factor as to whether Galatea and Murupara will choose Whakatane or Rotorua will be the road, and if the proposed tar-sealing is carried out, residents of the district will naturally go to the town with the better road leading to it—especially the farmers, to whom time is everything on a trip to town.

Therefore, if Whakatane wants to keep the trade from Murupara and Galatea for itself, it should give both places the best service it can—for even the practically 100 per cent, support that Whakatane now gets might disappear should Rotorua offer advantages in road conditions, road service, mail service plus the undeniable advantages of a larger and more varied town. Even if the dream of a tar-sealed road to Whakatane should not come true, conditions on the Whakatane road would be improved out of all recognition if the timber trucks were to travel by another route — say the old back road to Te Teko. The rail will, naturally, remove this difficulty but as it seems that it will be some time before this is operating, an alternate route for the timber trucks would help matters considerably. Well, Whakatane, what about it?