THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Friday, August 7, 1914 THE COUNTY TOWNS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 7 August 1914, Page 4

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Friday, August 7, 1914 THE COUNTY TOWNS

THIS important township of Helensville has a big grievance on hand, and now that the CountyCouncil elections are approaching, it behoves everyone's attention to look after their rights; rights that have been grossly overlooked in the past, and neglected by one and all; and what . appears to have been nobody's business has suffered by everybody's neglect, i.e., "The County Town." Where is it ?

Every other local body worthy of a name in the Dominion has a County Town or centre, then why not , Helensville ? — The largest and most important centre in the Waitemata, since Devonport, Takapuna, Northcote and Birkenhead have been knocked into Boroughs.

That portion of the Waitemata County now comprising the whole of the " North Shore," is, therefore, out of our sphere. Though it were not always so, we are in a Democratic age and live to move onwards —not to.be always running in the old Conservative slow-coach.

Helensviile is the most important populous and railway centre in the whole of the widely scattered County of Waitemata, with three hotels, two commercial Banks, boarding-houses, numerous stores, etc. Thus there is no lack of accommodation. And it is the very centre of the County, easily get-at-able from every quarter. Then what is the reason why, we may be pardoned for asking, Helensville is so isolated, as it were ? There must be a " corner in travelling exes," or else some subtle reason that we know not wot of, in keeping up expensive County offices and servants in Swanson Street, Auckland.

Some hole-and-cornerism that appears wrong and unfair to this large community, and it is to be hoped that ratepayers will' see eye-to-eye in this most important matter affecting their welfare ;and vote at next election for 'men who will uphold our contention that Helensville shall be made the County Township.