THE Hutt News FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1928. PROGRESS.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 May 1928, Page 4

THE Hutt News FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1928. PROGRESS.

• •»• • Progress, 7Viu.>;ii<.T it by of the individual, the eomitiinm/, ur the mil km, is frequently, itnleiul usually, so slow and gradual that it is long ere it becomes apparent to any but the closest observer. Individual progress is the gradual rising of a person from within as well as from without, to his better self, be it physical, mental or moral and is, in most cases, the result of a selfdetermination to " do" and to "bu" better. The progress of a community differs in a marked way from that of the individual insofar that factorsmany of which are contributing forces outside the community itself —operate upon and frequently dominate and direct the line of advance. The revealed evidences of community progress are many and of a varied nature and reveal themselves to even the most casual observer. No greater instance of this community progress is anywhere in 3STew Zealand more apparent at the present time titan in Lower Hutt. For a num.ber of years this beautiful borough ran the even course of its way, making no i very appreciable headway from a population, industrial or business point of view. It was a residential area only —a beautiful one certainly, but with no apparent strivings after advance. But what of to-day? Growth —advance, social, material and business prosperity all around us and more especially in our midst. It is not easy to account, adequately, for this rapid but sound progress, but we may profitably enumerate some, at least, of the contributing factors. Our big neighbour, Wellington, had grown and was reaching out for land suitable for homes for its ever in- ! creasing population. Where could it go $ There was no room witfhin the city proper—indeed there some of the people were being driven out to meet the demands of industry ot to fall in with the modern ideas of town-plan-ning, so the eyes of these home-seekers were cast further afield until they rested upon this valley with its rich soil, beauty of surroundings, easy access to Wellington and possessing all— or nearly all —the comforts and necessijties -tfhat can be .bestowed by a municipality. This land hunger existed. How could it be satisfied? Then ame the suggestion to the government that it should acquire a large area of land within the Borough of Lower Hutt (an area ideal for workers' and settlers 3 homes), run a railway line through the centre of the valley (wflteTe it should liave gone in the first place), to subdivide this area into sections within the financial Teach. of the workeT —road this j aiea and provide it with drainage, water supply and lighting. Such an opportunity for the welfare of the people in need could not be passed by. Thanks to out live Mayor to -wKhoni the scheme really owed its conception and who secured the backing of his busi-ness-like Council, and of a more than sympathetic government under the Hon. Mr Coates this scheme has materialises and to-day there arc nearly three hundred houses erected thereon and several hundreds of happily housed people enjoying the freedom of their own freehold homes. A very pleasant feature of the whole thing has been the smooth working and happy co-operation existing among tflio various departments, viz. —Lands, Railway, Public Works and the Borough Council, which last named body was, we understand, entrusted with the works necessary thereon.

Business premises have followed this housing and consequent growth of population and the increase in the number of these shops and business premises is very marked at the present time,.particularly in Main Street, Victoria Street, and Randwick Road, as well as in seve-ral of out subsidiary streets. From the educational viewpoint also

this progress is apparent. We have a fine new school with nearly five hundred scholars and known a*. Waiwhetu School, as well as a newly erected school in Pry's Lane to serve the growing needs of the north end of the borough. Judging by tihe rapid settlement in our luidst there will, very shortly, arise the necessity for other new schools or for the provision of more rooms to existing schools. Those needs will, we feel sure, be closely watched by our local representatives on the Education Board and by the School Committees concerned. A most gratifying feature of our social and municipal life is the existence of four bodies of active workers who are banded together to work for the advancement of the whole community along the best and most approved methods of local government. We refer to the' Progress League, the Civic League, the Business Men's Association and the Waiwetu Ratepayers' Association. It is our earnest wish that these bodies will not work independently of each other but will, when the demand for uniti-d action arises, act jointly for the common good.

Realising to the full this wonderful development we arc convinced that the time is opportune for the establishment of such a paper as we have the pleasure and privilege of to-day placing before our readers. We desire to Tender a social service and to that end have secured premises in the business centre of the borough, have put in an up-to-date printing plant, and provided a staff all of whom are resident within the Borough in older that we may the better assist all efforts being—or to be —made for the further progress of the district. We desire most earnestly to co-operate with all bodies of the people—whether leagues, clubs, ox associations, and to all such our columns are open for constructive criticism on all matters relating to the Borough's welfare. We desire nothing of carping criticism and mere fault finding—nothing that is of ana Trow parochial tendency; but everything that tends to the"' uplift of the people will have our fullest support. In order that publicity may be given to movements for general good we invite the co-operation of secretaries and chairmen of clubs, leagues,, etc.. to advise us of such movements, as we are convinced no better means of reaching the eleven thousand residents of the borough exists than our columns. Where there is a wrong to be resisted, or a cause to be assisted, there lies the work of our paper and in rendering such social service we hope to fully justify our effort in launching out on a more extensive scale. The "Hutt News" will in future be published each Thursday this supplying the public demand for a weekly newspaper.