THE KINS COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 1909 PUBLIC BODIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 124, 21 January 1909, Page 2

THE KINS COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 1909 PUBLIC BODIES.

Probably no district in the Dominion stands so greatiy in need of public bodies as the King Country, and certainlv no district has fewer such bodies

in proportion to its size and importance. The project on oot to establish a Chamber of Commerce at Te Kuiti should therefore receive the whole-hearted support of all who are desirou; of progress, and of claiming that recognition which is apparently so difficult to win from a Government which is content to allow the King Country to be administered chiefly by the Native Department. At Te Kuiti

in particular, the time has arrived

when the interests of the town and district require to be safeguarded in the mo<t careful manner. The extension of settlement.and the rapid increase in town population are sufficient in themselves to warrant the exercise of every effort to advance the claims of the district. Moreover, it must be borne in mind that unless these claims are advanced persistently, and in a proper manner, by the people themselves, there is not the shadow of a chance of obtaining tbat attention from the authorities which is so vitally important to the progress of any new district. We require to look no farther than the miserable apology for a post office at Te Kuiti, to be impressed with a knowledge of the manner in which King Country towns may expect to be treated by the authorities when opportunity offers, while tbe state of our roads is a standing monument to tbe ignorance and indifference of the Legislature. Public bodies are created by the people as a whole ,and carry a weight and influence such as is never associated with individual representations. Moreover, tbe organisation of any live body is an immense advantage, as compared with the unweildy working of promiscuous public meetings. In various parts of the district are settlers' associations, and leagues, which are doing excellent work, and we have pointed proof of the good resulting from the efforts of the Otorohanga branch of the Farmers' Union. Needless to say, there is still ample room for public effort and no opportunity should be lost of providing channels for the urging of our requirements.