The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1908. WANTED—A CITIZEN'S LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2154, 1 April 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1908. WANTED—A CITIZEN'S LEAGUE.

If any < vidence wore wanting that there ,is a. strong and urgent need in Gisborne for some body to represent t-lio- general business interests of the town and district, it was provided at Alonday’s meeting of the Harbor Board. Air. Hepburn referred to tho inconvenience that the travelling public is subjected to as the result of the inadequate arrangements made by the shipping companies trading to this port. The members of tliej Board did not deny the allegations made by ALr. Hepburn, but they simply passed tho matter over on the ground that it dill not, come within their jurisdiction. That is precisely the difficulty. We have not a Chamber of. Commerce, an Advancement Association, Citizen's League,, or ariy body whose business it is to tnko up such a matter, the result being that- the townspeople submit to disabilities that would not be tolerated elsewhere. The local manage r of the Union Company assures us that the fact that the Premier was on board had nothing to do with the excellent arrangements that prevailed in '(Lniiection with tho MonowaiVs arrival and departure on Sunday. If the arrangements had been entirely in Mr: Preston’s hands tho explanationmight readily have been accepted, but we have not yet learned that lie has special information as to the motives which actuated tlio' Auckland officials of, tlio company in despatching the steamer with a promptitude that was ill remarkable contrast to its usual dilatoriness. However/, granted that Mr. Preston’s contention is correct, and that blit for the heavy gale keeping the Island steamer from arriving at. Auckland on time, the Alonowai would have waited for the fruit cargo, this simply confirms the grounds upon which’ wo founded ' a general complaint, namely, that Gisborne is made subservient to all sorts of external interests. It would appear, according to Air Preston’s statement, that if the Xavua had been anywhere in sight on Saturday the Monowai would have been delayed to t-a'ke the fruit cargo aboard. This might have meant ail arrival at Gisborne anywhere from four o’clock until midnight according to the weather conditions. In other words, no special pains are taken by either company to ensure that tho arrival and, departure of passengers to anil from this port shall take place under reasonable conditions. The Gisborneite who wishes to. travel to Napier or further South pays a pound for an exceedingly short run, and is frequently kept waiting about the wharf for hours before he can get away. Finally he is half swung, half hurled from the launch to the steamer, only to find that instead of the berth he thought ho had paid for ho must be content with a “shake-down” with scores of other unfortunates. It is the same on the trip from Napier to Gisborne. Tlio steamers are visually overcrowded, and when, after a miserable experience the visitor is landed on tho Gisborne wharf, weary in body avid dejected in spirit, ho is in a mood to heartily curse tho Steamship company which has taken his money and given so little in return, and next the town which provides him with so cheerless a reception as ho walks tho streets seeking in vain for accommodation. Yet Mr. Preston assures us that the policy of tho Union Company is a prdgressiVe ouo, and tho requirements of. Gisborne are not lost sight of or neglected in any way. Of course one can scarcely blame the local manager, who certainly does his- host with a wretchedly bad service, and it is only fair to remark that Air.. Preston’s efforts pi) behalf of the public are only equalled by his zeal lor the company lie so faithfully represents. Air. Preston ,is an excellent apologist for his company, but if he expects the statement quoted to be taken, seriously he must have a singular view of , what “the requirements of Gisborne” really are.

Another subject that was brought up at the Harbor Board meeting was that of accommodation for visitors, and there is no question but that tlio failure of the hotels and boarding houses to cope with the demands of the travelling public aggravates tho evils attendant upon our faulty passenger service, and reflects discredit upon the town. This, too, is a matter for our business people to take up, and forms' another argument for the formation of a body which will take united action in all matters affecting tho business interests of the town. There has been in tlio past a let-.it-slide policy that may. have been right excusable when the place was little more than a. straggling village, but now that the large influx of population is daily increasing - the wealth and importance of the town, it is urgently necessary that some new blood should'be infused into the management of our public affairs. There arc two features which strike almost

every observant visitor who comes to Hi is place; tho first is the marvellous fertility of tlio country, and tho second is tlio backwardness of tho tiWu in all municipal matters. jAlany of those defects are duo to causes that can only be remedied with tho greatest difficulty, but there .are others which only require; the .attention of a few energetic and 'intelligent citizens. But unless those whoso 'business interests are wrapped lip in tlio town are prepared lo take a hand in its affairs, it will bo ii long time before tho district receives its just dues either from the Government or from private institutions;