WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

(Our Special Correspondent)

THE CAPITAL WAKES UP

A PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 4

It is quite characteristic of Welling, ton that it should be the last of the big citeis of the Dominion to awaken to the value of personal and municipal effort in promoting the welfare and happiness of the community. Its people have lived so long in an atmosphere of political movement and business bustle they scarcely remember there are other things that affect their, daily, lives far more intimately. The municipal government is left to a mere handful of their number/ and*though as good, of course, as the majority deserves, is so far short of what it should be, the capital city has come to be regarded by many folk condemned to live within its borders as the least desirable place of residence in the Dominion.

THE PROGRESS LEAGUE. A step towards reform, or at any rate towards an improvement upon the existing state of affairs, is promised by the formation of the Central Progress League. The widely distributed circular, inviting citizens to attend a meeting at which the L'eaguc was to he horn asked if thov were satisfied with the progress of the city, with the settlement and development of the province, with what the Government had done-for them in these inspects, and with the community’s absorption in money making to the neglect of social services. The few score people that responded to the invitation with their presence answered all the questions in the negative and adopted serveral admirable resolutions intended to stir the citizens into action. POLITICAL PRESSURE. Rut on the very morn of its birth the Progress League is threatened with conversion into another log-rolling organisation. The “Dominion” this morn ing commends it to its readers not because it may vastly improve the conditions of life in the city of Wellington, hut-because it may bring prcssuic upon the Government in providing roads and bridges and railways for the province. “It is perfectly plain to all wjio have taken the trouble to institute comparisons,” it says, “that the southern half of the North Island will fall out of the running unless means are found of effectively asserting its claims to fair anil just consideration in regard to public works and some other matters.” This is the old story More loaves and fishes are wanted and they are to he obtained in the customary way. „, .i MUNICIPAL REFORM, It is only right and proper-£bat the -city, shoiilcl co-operuie,, with i province in pressing upon tlie- attention of those in auhority the needs of the southern half of the North Island, but what Wellington requires more than anything else is wider and more active interest in its municipal affairs. P>y Us gOO- - position it is assured in its fit uncling as the commercial metropolis of the country, happen what will, hut its geographical position will not help it as a place of residence, or make it a worthy capital of this great little country unless its municipal government and administration are drastically reformed. Here is an enormous sphere for the activities of the Progress League in which it will have the hearty good wishes of the whole of the people of New Zealand. _____