Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29. 1919. LACKING CIVIC PRIDE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29. 1919. LACKING CIVIC PRIDE.

A town or a district depends in the main on tho pride taken in its affairs by its civic population. It is not putting too fine a point on the matter to say that locally Hokitika suffers by reason of a want of public interest in its appearance, if not- in its affairs. It is useless as it is unfair to rail against the civic fathers, for they are the creation of the people themselves, and with the universal suffrage now exisiting in municipal elections, if tho people require a change it is within their power to effect it. The appearance. of a town counts, and with the future before this district, and the prominent- position of the town itself, it is not too much to say that Hokitika is handicapped somewhat by the neglect it suffers at the hands of the local authority. The town is in need of a more regular and constant clean up. Its streets require more frequent attention. Cass Square is a ease in point of tho neglected .state of public affairs about the town. Just what can be done by the energy and application of one man is shown by the .tasteful appearance of Macandrew Square. What has been done there might surely he repeated elsewhere, without involving a cost beyond the local resources. The bedraggled appearance of some of the places intended to be ornamental is an eyesore which should not exist. Certainly Cass Square should have much needed attention, and make it a place of comfortable resort. The matter wills for attention just now because of the •striking neglect observable, and particularly because we are at that season of the year when there is the opportunity to review civic control. We are approaching the period for the municipal elections, and the time will he at band very shortly when those disposed to complain of neglect; or drift have the opportunity of asserting themselves and propounding a policy which will ensure better attention to those many little matters, the sum of which mean so much to general appearances. Hokitika has a future as a tourist centre, and the town should cater to attract this patronage. The town has the resources to do the work such as we have in mind, which sytematically attended to, would not be a drain on the annual finance. There is just that lack of pride in appearances which requires to bo supplied, and for a very modest outlay an improving appearance could he secured. If public opinion • cares to assort itself file advantage can he gained. One hears very often the matters referred to general conversation, when tho authorities arc railed against, but what is required is the practical attention of even one or two, and we are certain the Council would follow the lead. As it- is there is a positive indifference to civic appearances, and the deterioration in the state of tho town is very noticeable to what it was a few years ago. If a little healthy rivalry for civic seats could bo engendered, perhaps the chief difficulty in the matter would he overcome.