The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1929. CIVIC APATHY.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1929. CIVIC APATHY.

Aim ii civp ol‘ local body do, lions morning in the distant e, speakers mid press in most parts of the Dominion arc complaining about the apathy of lhe public in regard to local, lot alone general affairs. A speaker at Auckland this week in some remarks apropos the subject emphasised the practical applications of citizenship expressing the view that sport and recieation, .vhile having their rightful place in the ommunity, had no right to dominate the interests of the people to the exclusion of everything else. The scholar, Sir Ernest Rutherford, would survive in history the hoxer, Tom Heeney, no said. It is of course important, in fact imperative, that the public should dirow-off their indifference regarding public affairs, and manifest a livelier ,merest m civic matters which govern he future of the town or district. [Jness this comes to pass there is danger nid trouble ahead. The Auckland speaker stressed his point in these ser.ms words: “In every walk of life men arc striving and making a supreme oicrifice to add to the sum of human howlodgo; yet in national and local lolitics wo, as a community, are mailing time, and this mainly through lack of interest on the part of the people, t lias been rightly said that individual responsibility for the good government >l' the country ought to be learned at •very mother s knee, taught daily in .lie .schools, preached continually from he pulpit and proclaimed everywhere v the press. There is not the slightest doubt we are living in a pleasure-loving ge Recreation and sport have their •iglitful place in our life and in the ommunity, but they have no right to iomiiiate and take first place to the •xelusion of everything else.” Most oik who give the matter consideration 'ill agree that there are grounds for ..e words of warning which have been .ttered, and that being sa it would be veil to take stock and endeavour to remedy the situation betimes. Jn a ouple of months there will be a call for representatives on all kinds of local odies, and it would be well now t) >ondcr on the situation, and endeavour sending along the right- class of epresentativo, to awaken tiie public to i true sense of interest, in what, after til, are their own affairs. It has to he igreed, however, that there is a eon1, .erahlc cull on the people in regard o local Government in this country, n all there are some 690 local government bodies of various descriptions functioning in Mew Zealand. An winy of representatives is thus rcpiirefl. It is one of the difficulties of be position to find the number of enhusiastie representatives repaired to !<> all the work required, and that ippear.s to account for some of the ipatliy existing. A lesser mini er </ meal b dies would give a better choice, ■at New Zealand is essentialy denioratic, and believes in ■■trusting the >■ onle” to a very generous extent. The ggregnte income and expenditure controlled by heal government runs into many millions, and on that store it would be in the interest of the ratenave rs who are responsible for the public debt of the local bodies, and •lie mainstay of the bodies in providing •. venue for their upkeep, to see that be choice of representatives is well and wisely made. Sa far as local eonmions are concerned, wo have remarked on previous occasions, that on the whole the public are well served, bat there is room for improvement always. Local government itself, is '•hanging in many respects. The scopof the work has iseeii widened. More money is required, and more avenues for collection arc being provided. AVimt is necessary to secure the best result, is a. system of organisation in the administration. so that the work ol i period or a year, will not he haphazard. but along definite lines. 7n

other words, a policy .should he eniin>dated according to needs and requirements and dnlv pursued. Public opinion can help always to shape a policy, and it is often j list because of the apathetic situation, that opinion is silent and the policy absent. Criticism can be helpful always, but it is often the case that the public never troub'e in that direction, and the result is a state of drift, and it requires something unusual to happen to shape a fresher course. The law has provided for this possible e-outingeney bv settiny apart times for the fresh election if local body mem hers. I n respect to municipal and county matters in particular. the time for a fresh election s at hand. The time is approaching ilso, for the re-election of managements for hospital, harbour and power ioards, so that there is wide opnortun:y for ratepayers to exercise their bent f they favour one form of administraion more than another. Here then is, lie opportunity for public interest to ie aroused to action, and the opporunity should not he neglected.

trol Hoard, which refused to permit private persons to lill an order lor apples from Germany, but—so it is reported—i.x now exp’oiting that market itself. The law being what it is, Sir •Joseph Ward, of course', could not intervene, but possibly he thought a lot. I lie whole body of law affecting these control Boards should he carefully overhauled. There is also the matter, to which attention was directed this week at meetings of chambers of commerce, if the clause in the Rural Credits Act •.hat permits companies to guarantee loans even if their articles of association are at the verv lia.se of company

iiiw, They are a contract with the imreliolders and a gaurantee of safety to the company’s creditors, yet tin’s Act says that for a certain important purpose this contract and guarantee may be set aside. That, the law should permit such a broach of faith is monstrous. The same Act contains the usai power to the Government to make regulations. One of the tilings the Government may do is to waive all or my of the pro vise ns of the Companies \<t in respect to associations formed under this new Act. Talk about lawyers driving coaches through Acts of Pariaimnt! Parliament itself lias driven char-a-bancs, comments the Vitek laud “Star.” ft is clear matters with regard to interference with trading cannot remain as they are. One interference is responsible for too much restriction, and the pampering proposed is killing'the initiative of private enterprise along many avenues. Freedom with regard to trading is the >est assurance for useful competition most likely tq lift tile volume of production, and so help the country to progress along natural, rather than artificial lines.

The Public Works Department inserts a notification in this issue dealing with the protection of portion of tho hanks of Butler’s Creek, Wat area S.D. The Westport Jockey Cluli’s nominations for their two days races on March -3rd and 2oth., close on Tuesday next, March 3th at 9 p.m. The Dorothy will run on Sunday next March 3rd. at 10.30, 12.30 and 2.30 ;>.m. at Lake Kanicri. Fares 2s return.—Advt. The team to represent Kanieri in heir match with United A at Occymouth on 'Sunday is to be chosen from die following:—F;. Morris, W. Owens, L : Webster,’ F. Cutler, H. Wells, K. Wells, W. Fleming, S. Fleming, T. Rooney, J. Cooper, A. Dale, It. Howat. All players are reminded that the •onvcyance leaves Kanieri at 8.30 a m. sharp. The Competitions on Cass Square are being continued to-day, and will to concluded to-morrow which will lie the ■‘ big day ” of the week, several special events being set down. The afternoon will be observed as a holiday, and thera will be a large attendance to be swollen course by the country people. Tonight there is to be a sing song on Cass Square as well as dancing on tlrgreen. It is to be an out-door night and should result in a very gay timi ■'icing enjoyed by the large attendant-■ which is sure to roll up. .To-night Cass Square will take on a fresh interest in connection with the visit of the Firemen. To assist in their entertainment there will lie community singing as well as dancing on tile Square. 'I lie Black Hand orchestra will be to the fore, and some of the visitors will help with liakas, and other interesting specialities. It is hoped t have the pavilion illuminated for the occasion, and there should lie plenty of fun for those attending.

At tiie annual conference of - the U.F.B.A. on Tuesday one of the remit carried dealt with the utilisation of wlmt is known as the “ petrol tin ” disc. This device was placed in position and used in one portion off the competitions yesterday and it gave every satisfaction. The opinion was freely expressed by the working firemen that tiie device had come to stay, and that it was a decided improvement ■ m the “shutter” disc in use also in use during tiie day. The “ petrol tin” device appeared to respond, far more promptly to the striking of the iet of water.

A youth of good address hut with morals of a. get-rich-quick order, lias recently been operating the confidence trick on a minor scale in "Wellington C ity and suburbs. ITis line is the selling of electric light globes, for which lie charges about 7s 6d, and bis method is. after disposing of a globe to a too trusting housewife or businessman, to came back again and borrow the globe on the pretext of wanting to demonstrate it to another customer. That is the last seen of the globe and of the youth.

The Fire Brigades’ Demonstration will conclude on Cass Square to-morrow afternoon, when there will he a full day’s programme of interesting events. Some of the star items are set down for to-morrow, and the public will find much to interest. The presentation of prizes takes place to-morrow evening in the Town Hall, followed by a farewell dance in the Soldiers’ Hall. Firemen in uniform and all ladies will he admitted free. At 11.30 some appropriate songs and choruses will be sung, followed by An Id Lang Syne at 11.00. and the National Anthem at 11.55. The occasion should be a very happy wind-up to the events of the week. Valedictory speeches will be delivered at the Town Hall gathering. Owing to the limited accommodation only those who have been assisting on the various committees can be admitted to the Soldiers’ Hall in addition to the Firemen and ladies.

W. Jeffries and Co. will hold a stock sale at Harihari sale yards on Wednesday. March (sth, at 1 p.m. J Tho Rev.-Nelson Wright leaves tomorrow morning for the military training camp at Burnham. He is to chaplain. A young lad named F. Wilson was last evening admitted to the Grey Hospital suffering with a dislocated knee, ths. result of tailing from his' bicycle at Runanga. 'l’lie order of Masses and Devotions i St. Mary’s Parish on Sunday, March 3rd; will be as follows: Arab lira 10 a.m., Hokitika 7. a.m. 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. An occupied house of six rooms at/* Ahaura was last evening destroyed by tire. It belonged to Mr Arthur Brooks of Reeifton. It was completely demolished. The cause is a mystery. It was mentioned yesterday that at the conference held at Hokitika 34 years ago only three members were present at Monday and Tuesday’s gathering. These were Hon. H. L. -Michel, M..8.C., then President of the U.F.8.A., Past-President Robbins, of Hawera, who was elected President at that annual meeting, in 1895, and Past President Martin, of Gore.

The Wellington correspondent of the '* 1 ‘Lyttelton Times’’ states :• —I have authority for stating that the reportfrom Wanganui that Mr M. Myers has been approached by the AttorneyGeneral with a view to appointment as Chief Justice is entirely without foundation. The position is that the matter has not been considered bv the the Government, and that Mr Myers has certainly not been approached. The Hon A. L. Herdman was appointed Acting-Chief Justice on the departure of the late Sir Charles Skerrett from New Zealand, and he continues to act in that capacity. In connection with our report of the Demonstration results, and the times ol - the various competitors, where only one time appears it means that the run was a clean one, without penalty; where a penalty was incurred, the amount is mentioned in brackets, amp the gross time of the run follows. Where “disqualified” is mentioned, it means that the competitor failed to carry out the work in accordance with the programme set out. Where, following the time, “no test” appears, it means that the; time having exceeded what then would have a chance dt getting into the prize-money, no tests for penalties were taken, with a view to saving time and saving the judges unnecessary work. The words “ did net finish ” explain for themselves and generally were the result of some mishap or failure in the work in some part, which prevented all hope winning performance. Several accidents of a minor nature occurred at the Blackball- Mine on Monday. While employed as a trucker on the. front shift, Sydney Small suffered severe injuries to the ribs. James Shields, sen., received an injury to an eve while working as a shiftman on the back shift. Shields was engaged coupling up the electric 'bell wires when the end of the wire penetrated an eye. causing a painful injury. After medical treatment by Dr F. 0. Bennett, he was able to return to work yesterday. A further accident occur- i red on the dog watch shift. William Neilson, jun. suffered injuries to the hark and thigh Along with tkpee others he was engaged re-timbering and removing debris where a previous f ill of coal had occurred on the hack -hi ft. when a fall of coal (approximately five cwt.) came from a greasy back without warning, knocking Neil‘on on to the ground. He was escorted to his home and his injuries will necessitate absence from work for a Few days.