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Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1921, Page 2

Folk are asking is the town is going to ,do something practical to help itself in tlie way of development and expansion. Lately we have dealt with the subject from various points of view, and encouraged now to refer to the question again because of the enquiries

being made regarding possible action. Many people are realising that there are several ways in which the town can help itself by taking advantage of This is a season of the year, for in- i various opportunities and openings. This is a season of the year, for in- ‘ stance, which shows the growing popularity of .the place with outsiders. Our isolation is a fast diminishing condition, and with the early advent of the railway will finally disappear. The community requires to lie up and doing. There is \\*ork for all to help, but so few offer to lead. If some of the interest and enthusiasm ..shown in games and pastimes were devoted to the welfare of the place as a whole, there would be the necessary impetus given with regard to the required quickening action to bestir the place. There are many local institutions using up the energies of willing workers, but not one of them would he as useful to the community as a whole, as a local organisation bent on making Hokitika, greater and more opulent. There is the work to do. The need for the action exists. Civic life is moribund and needs quickening if the town is to use the many opportunities it has at its disposal. Pride in our own town is as essential as pride in ourselves, if we wish the place to prosper greatly. Action along those lines has been urged in many ways of late. Of the new year, the first month will soon be slipping hy, and it will he barren of results. What of our new year hopes; where are new year resolutions? The onus is on ourselves, and we foel sure that given th<s leadership the people will respond generously, and the whole community will reap the advantage. Will not those in authority charged with the public weal move along active and progressive lines in a way to give ihe municipality that live civic policy it needs to secure expansion and greater prosperity?

The question of the choice of the weekly half-holiday is a disturbing subject at the moment and is to be considered at this week’s meeting of the local Borough Council. ’Petitions for both Wednesday and Saturday are to bo presented and no doubt tbe representations of the business people will have due consideration. The question is one, however, which serves ’more than the business-people or their employees, for the public who are the customers are no less vitally affected. Their convenience has to he considered also. Tti a working community such as this is, both as affecting town and country, the workman does not receive' payment till tlio end of the week, and Saturday is the universal shopping day for the workers' family hereabouts. It will he a hardship oil many workers if the shops are not open as usual on Saturday nights, No other night jn the week would serve the* worker so woll, for the following day being a rest day, lie may complete bis business in town on Saturday night at his leisure, with the knowledge that lie has not to lie up betimes next morning and off to work Is'fore the shopkeepers are astir. It will be a hardship to many families if Saturday night trading were, thus cut off. It will lie a loss to the town in general trade also if sucli comes to pass. Trade will be driven out of the place either to neighboring places or through postal conveniences, when local supplies cannot bo obtained ns conveniently as is now the case. Saturdays in the picnic seasons are the days selected for crowds of visitors to come to the town, and if the shops are closed on such occasions a great volume of extra business will he lost. From a town point of view it appears a retrograde step to abandon Wednesday and select Saturday. The train service is admirably fixed now for country trading on Saturdays, and on no other day in .the. week could so convenient a service be expected. To change the weekly halfholiday will cut off trade, and reduce business materially. As we have shown it will be most inconvenient to the hulk of the customers, and in view of all the circumstances, a change now would bo very unwise.