The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1910. LEVIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1910, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1910. LEVIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

j Investigation lias shown tt.li.nt the Levin Cha,m.ber of Commerce is moribund, not dead. Such being I the case, it is time tli.it some stimulant was administered, to revivify its corporate body. It has a small cash, credit at the bank, and a secretary who is ready to move, as soon as any of ftihe business men of the town show a desire to .assume the burden of its administration. 'Jo be frank -about the matte*, we muslt say that in our uxperionces we have seen hut few rewards coming to those who have shouldered the responsibilities of commercial «wl general oversight of town or city; there is a disposition amongst the not inconsiderable proportion of the population M'hieli views the efforts from flfar to criticise severely while it gives no help. But to those-east in the best mould such experiences are spurs, not hobbies; and 'the extraordinary or ogress made by Levin during its short existence :gives proof that a big proportion of her citizens are of thalt calibre. The moribund condition of the Chamber of Commerce is based upon other causes than the unwillingness *• of business men to inconvenience themselves.' But it would be profitless to give deitails to-day of why the Ohamber lost its vigour. Thb reason for the writing of .this article is a belief that in Levin, to-day, a clamant need demands the resuscitation of the Chamber. This centre has reached a stage of progress at'

which the.-township has receded, and the town has not taken on all the finish that differentiates the two. Some of Levin's needs scarcely dome within the purview of a Chamber of Commerce, but there aie others' more germane to a Chamber, and more important, requiring consideration and awaiting the application of impetus to send them forward for the betterment of town and district both. Whenever we recur to the matters of the sand-drift danger we feel that we are in somewhat like case to /that of " Mr Dick and King Charles's .head;" Init that matter is so serious a one, and a need so pressing, that we would come short of our duty if we failed ito keep it in the forefront. A Chamber of Commerce, representing as it would do a considerable and important section of the community, yet a much moro restricted one than the Rorough Council represents, would be able, to give additional support to that body on this and other important matters by resolution and action. Closer settlement of this district is anothei urgent, need. If ever (there was a countryside peculiarly suited for closer settlement the Horowhonna County is that one. Blessed with a fruitful soil and a perfect climate

"• :• culture, both in regard, to sun a.nd rain, the long district between Otaki and Shannon is quite capable of supporting in comfort a population numbered by tens of thousands. Admittedly there is no better fruit growing land in New Zenland than ours; and for bee-farming and poultry-raising it is equally eminent. Tn those lines done there are means of speedily quadrupling, the population and productivity of the country; quite apart from the ordinary means such as dairying and sltook raising, winch are capable of much further extension. A good lead in this direction could be given by a Chamber of Commerce. There is no need to go into detail on this head ; the means are obvious enough not to require specific suggestions. What "is" needed is a resuscitation of tlie Chamber. We have heard conmlaints by business men during the hist week about rertai litnansit conditions. Therein .is ground enough, surely, for a Chamber to •institute useful inquiries, and to ■make suggestions for remedy, which, cmnjng as the matured opinion of a representative bodv, would be much more likely to be given effect to than tho isolated complaint of one inconvenienced tradesman would be. A Chamber of Commerce, to put the matter tersely, is a corporate pronouncement bv a town or city that- it recognises the interdependence of one business man upon another; that of the town upon the country: and (to a lesser extent, perhaps") that of the country upon the town ; a recognition of the fact that although n few separate sections mnv live independently of end) other, they may live better and progress much more rapidly by means of proper in lord open donee. Towns, like men. must go ahead or stagnate; there is no permanent place for marking time. Levin, by a forced march, has distanced many other competitors, but she is slbill a few miles from London. One means to maintenance of her present position, and to help her further along he road of progress, is a representative commercial body. We have reasonable hopes Mat the Levin Chamber of Commerce, will be seen ore long giving a lively lend in that direction.