WIDER OUTLOOK

Levin Daily Chronicle, 29 February 1928, Page 2

WIDER OUTLOOK

WHAT THE MOTOK-CAR IS DOING Under the heading '‘The Motor Cur Makes a New Countryside," the Melbourne *' Herald' 7 recently published un nrtici;: tnal deserves re-printing. All over Australia and Now Zealand and all over the world, the motorcar is making a new countiyside. Those little towns which once were all sufficient to themselves and which looked for no trade outside their .own boundaries are, by reason of the new mobility, rapidly becoming a part of the general scheme of things. Their insularity is being broken down, and the .change is doing them and the whole community a vast amount of good. The ideal slate is one in which the people are of a single mind and heart. That condition has not yet been altogether achieved hero or in any other part of the world A community is built up of many isolated sections which are more or loss at loggerheads with one another. It is only when they have a common interest or are faced with a common danger that they achieve unity. The war taught us that. But whereas we are capable of single-mindedness in the face of a common foe, wo have yet to learn how to unite in the ideals of peace. The motor-ear is showing' us the way to promote unity and mutual development. It is at present doing more for communal harmony than any other agency devised by man. It is compelling the two halves of the community to mingle, and is making the one better known to the other. It is accomplishing in the way of unity what no other agent has yet been able to perform. Because the motor-ear with its occupants goes far afield at week-ends it is creating a new rural life. It is making towns of what were once villages It is forcing city standards on the country, because the city man will bo satisfied with nothing less. The little community which, was once satisfied with itself and its surroundings is learning that it is a part of a greater concern, and that there arc pertain things it must do and aspire to become a real part of the whole. Th country is beginning to discover that, opinions' expressed round the parish pump are not the last thing in politics; anti the city is finding that the point of view of the country de-mands-attention. A wider horizon has been opened up everywhere, and the local problem is no more the only problem. These chaiiges are being effected, not by strenuous propaganda, but through the material agency of trade. The übiquitous motor-ear has not only shifted people, but has transferred business. The city man who takes the road at week-ends is demanding the standards gf the city in the country.' He takes with him money for the purchase of his needs As a consequence, country towns have begun to cater for him. Newer and more up-' to-date hotels are springing up isja, rural areas. Coihmoditics , lyhich .the' travelling population demands are; being st.opked. for sale. * conutityi service station is ready to supply the travelling city motorist with .the! things he needs;- and the roadside 1 vendor of marketable commodities ; has become a regular institution/ _ ( ; Ali 7 thcso things make tor unity and, understanding. It has. often been said) that better and quicker commumca-i lions will bring about-, peace-■ of the) world.', -Mobile, populations are un- 1 doubtedly the best,'- 'because .--inter-. 'mingling creates' understanding. If| quick transport is a factor inV uniting, a- single country, it must - also . have its value in the wider sphere of international affairs. Unity, .like charity must begin at home.. When we have created a solid . community through the modern process" of travel, we are ripe for that greater ; understanding which will bring peace where once the shadow ,of war always lay.