LOOKING AHEAD

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 5, 21 June 1928, Page 7

LOOKING AHEAD

THE FUTUBE OP THE HUTT VALI^EY (By FRANK MAITLAND) Cordially will every thinking man and woman greet the article appearing in "The Hutt News" of Bth inst under the above heading. The future of the Hutt Valley, its progress and development, is of vital interest, and the subject is essentially one for full and free discussion; consequently those of our residents who are loyally, but not parochially, interested in the future of our Borough, will thank the Editor of this young, but enterprising journal for opening its columns to correspondence on the subject. While agreeing in certain, views expressed by the writer of this article I would point out that some of his suggestions are open to question, and much careful consideration will be needed before our burgesses should commit themselves to such amalgamations as are suggested or hinted at, and in any ease the old adage "hasten slowly" should be borne in mind. Beading the artical with its classical references. to the development and progress, artistically, and architecturally, the saying "other times, other manners," forces itself upon one. The possibilities of ancient Greece and even earlier Egyptian times are not for us of to-day. Imagine .

the builders, architects, and artists of classic Grecian times, or the PhaToahs, who erected the Pyramids doing so with their operatives mnder an award of the Arbitration Court of a 44 hours' week and a wage of anything between two and three shillings and hour. Times change and we with them, and what was possible in classic Europe would be hopeless in the Hutt Valley of to-day.

While every praise is due, and 'is unsparingly given to the foresight and wisdom of those in whose hands the destinies of this district have lain during the past few years for the wonderful—not to say phenomenal—development'of the Hutt Borough, I am confident they would ,be the (first to acknowledge that there are, even now, things in which they,would, had they been able to see the ultimate results, have acted, upon different lines. And this m/ust be the case. So much, therefore, is the greater need for the utmost caution to be exercised, and the most tjareful consideration given before any proposals are entertained for amalgamation, or absorbtion of our beautiful residential suburb with (or into) any adjacent Borough. That we might extend to residents living in a northerly or westerly direction the privileges and advantages of becoming burgesses of the Hutt Borough is a suggestion that will probably commend itself to many, but the writer of the article now under review seriously hints that we should "include that Borough (Petone) within its (Hutt Borough's) jurisdiction." Did the writer of those words ever hear of the "Lady of? Riga" and the disastrous fate that ensued on her attempted ride on a tiger? She was "absorbed" amongst the digestive appliances of that greedy and ill-savoured beast! May not a similar fate be contemplated to befall the borough of Lower Hutt at the hands of the civic authorities of the neighbouring . manufacturing and smellful borough. There may be arguments in favour of an amalgamation on equitable terms with Petone, but it will be readily apparent that there is little community of interest between a strictly manufacturing and industrial community such as Petone includes and a garden, residential suburb, as we are proud to call our beautiful Hutt. But of this more anon.

The suggestion, of the author of the previous article to include Kastbourne ' and "the-Bays" within the-boundaries of our Borough is one to strike horror to the heart of the ratepayer, and very long consideration should be given, to this project —say a century or two— before it is seriously entertained. Doubtless Eastbourne would be delighted to get rid of its "marine white elephant farm," and hand over its necessary expenditure of some' quarter of a million sterling for water aiid drainage to the Hutt ratepayers for their kindly assistance, but those same ratepayers will probably enquire, "Where do we come in?"

I think we niust all recognise that the residents of this most favoured suburb are now doing very well as they aTe; foresightedness and forehandedness are virtues to be extolled, but prudence and caution must govern the actions of our burgesses when projects such as suggested are laid before them by the civic authorities for consideration. Under the able caTe and guidance of the present Mayor (a gentleman -personally unknown to me) "Long May He Reign," —and Councillors—the community may be well assured that their interests will not be jeopardised by any precipitate and ill-considered action.