Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1923, Page 2

Sin James Allen, Hicrh Commissioner in London, an nears to Lave rendered very useful service in sharply criticising the remarks of the mission of the British Empire Exhibition trith record

to Now Zealand affairs which aro all quite foreign to the task on which the mission itself was engaged upon while

in the Dominion. The gentlemen constituting the mission were no doubtselected for their special qualities in regard to advancing the interests of the Great Empire Exhibiton it is proposed to hold in London next year. A section of the Exhibition visited Hokitika and there was the opportunity of measuring their calibre for the task in hand. The report, or rather portions

of it, have been published at Home, and what has been recorded appears to j have aroused not improperly, the ire of Sir James Allen. Sir James’ comment is very much to the point, for strnngo to say the report of the mission evidences the fact that the delegates went out- of their way to belittle New Zealand. This may he the .superior “English” way of handling the subject. Sir James Alien goes the length of controverting the accuracy of much of the report on Dominion affairs, and he very sensibly asks tlie question what in any case, has a criticism ol New Zealand internal to do with an Empire Exhibtion? Sir James has reported the mat ter to the Prime Minister. and what has occurred will have a damping effect on the interest- in this quarter in the Great Exhibition. However the protest lias had good effect already, mid portions of the condemned report are being rewritten, while parts are being deleted. Hut it is an important circumstance in any case, and one can marvel that a mission lor such a- specific purpose should go so far out of its way -as to write down one of the best customers :t wished to attract to the enterprise, the interests of which it was supposed to he fostering.

’l'm.) “get-together” movement which is considered a panacea to maintain ptogressivc development among a people* or in a- country, is being afforded an opportunity to display itself at tl’ l ' meeting of members of local bodies convened to be held at the Town Hal toniwlit, to discuss matters of general interest. The value of these gatherings depend upon the local interest aroused and the personal attention on the part of the public to the matters coming up for consideration. As has been remarked before, there are now opportunities opening up tllls ,or the district .and the more active the people are in their own public! aiiairs, the creator will he Urn benefits to be derived all round. Apart from the* self-help which can he of such material value in regard to local progress, there is much outside help displaying iisoll in a palpable form. A reference was made yesterday to the very valuable gratitutous assistance being afforded the district by the metropolitan press with the special articles now being so froelv published. These articles are a most' useful advertising medium, and are n form of help pleasingly independent- of local influence, and thereloie of a narticular value. Seeing, therefore. such ready assistance to help m a spontaneous way by others outside, the onus „f doing something to help ourselves is ihe greater, those paitl,mating in the public, life of the community have special assisting to the dosirod end. * ,m ,. in,/ Mich as that convened by the C!ta'"'>er of Commerce for to-night uttorcb an outlet lor the. ventilation ol public views, and the concentrating ol tlioii.’ht. on matters ol pulilu- impel 1. The opportunity should be seized to the iidlest advantage. Jhe meeting, wo understand, is open for the ventilation of public topics generally and s not confined necessarily to the Inn - of the. set order paper. A lively interest should be manifested in these recurring meetings.