ESSAY COMPETITION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 644, 18 February 1914, Page 7

ESSAY COMPETITION.

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S CLASS. The following essay was awarded first prize in the class for children attending a school with a roll number of under thirty. It is the production of George Voyce, aged thirteen, years, who is attending Mairoa half-time school, which has a roll number of 14 ADVANTAGES OF DOING ONE'S BUSINESS IN TE KUITI. There are undoubtedly many rapidly progressing towns in the North Island, but Te Kuiti although in its infancy, already holds a front position among the inland towns of this ißland- Te Kuiti does not owe ita prosperity entirely to the completion of the Main Trunk line and other facilities for trade. It is to the industry enterprise of the settlers, coupled with the unlimited resources of the districts for many miles around These settlers, who have helped to 5 make Te Kuiti, should look with pride on their town, which they see growing every day. They could hardly show the spirit better than by placing confidence in their own places of business By doing this they would not allow other centres to prosper at the expense of their own town, which would gradually fall into insignificance without the support of the settlers. Persons who send to distant places for tb ir goods, think they get them cheaper than in Te Kuiti, but they are in many cases deceived, for they are probably kept waiting for the arrival of the goods, and when they do get them, thev are often not what the persons wanted., because they were not there to choose the kind they preferred. Consequently they are disappointed, and again have further delay while they are waiting for the proper goods to be re-forwarded. By making Te Kuiti the main centre for all tbe districts that stretch on every side of this prosperous town, the land would rise in value as the centre became larger and wealthier. There are many other townships, situated in these districts, and if they were to draw their supplies from Te Kuiti they would not only be helping to build up that town, but would gain themselves as they would not have to pay freight on the goods, and they would not lo3e by breakages. When persona send to larger towns for their supplies, they consequently get them in large amounts they therefore feel the cost more than if they obtained the goods in smaller quantities, and at more regular intervals from Te Kuiti. The possibility of errors in ordering and receiving goods is reduced; less capital is involved at any one ?time, and settler and merchant mutually assist each other. When persons buy goods in Te Kuiti, the money remains there, where it helps to maintain the building of better warehouses and enables storekeepers and merchants to maintain better premises, and carry larger and better stocks of goods. If this happened the merchants would be able to contribute amounts of money in aid of kindred institutions that would benetfit the whole town, especially the clerks and shopmen, who have been working in doors all day, and it is they that need iome kind of outdoor amusement, after their work is finished. Country visitors and travellers from distant places would also appreciate the conveniences thereby maintained, and the attractiveness and popularity of the town would naturally lead to greater prosperity and happiness.