Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1917. CIVIC INDIFFERECE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1697, 12 April 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1917. CIVIC INDIFFERECE.

FAXCY having to scurry rouml at flic devoutli hour to Hud some one other than the worthy Chairman (Mr 13.I 3 . J. lienuessy) to till the borough’s representation on the Foxton Harbour Board. The Foxlou Harbour Board, mark you, not the Bluff or Timl)uc(oo Harbour -Board. Such iudifTereuce on the part of’ local citizens concerning the port —a matter of: vital concern to the borough and district —■ lo pul it mildly, is scandalous. The same old lethargic microbe exists and nourishes in our midst to-day as it did years ago when the old Harbour Board languished and died because there were not sufficient men in the community to carry on the constitutional administration of the port. Hence the wharf was controlled by (lie Railway Department, and the waterway by the Marine Department, until the new hoard was brought into being. Were it not for the whole-hearted enthusiasm of one local man (Mr Hennessy), backed by outside support, there would not be a constituted Harbour Board to-day, nor any prospect of getting back the wharf —the principal source of the Board’s revenue. —from the Railway Department at: a reasonable iigure. The same lethargic spirit is manifest in municipal affairs. Our retiring Mayor was pushed into other against his wishes, and was allowed to defeat a man who displayed enthusiasm and a desire to push the borough out of the rut. We do not wish to make a comparison as to the merits of these citizens, but only desire to emphasise (lie extraordinary indifference and lack of foresight on the part of burgesses. Foxton reminds us —not in the wicked sense, of course —of the pleading of the prophet for a few righteous men to save the destruction of ,Sodom. Foxton needs to lie saved not from destruction, but from selfish, indifference. Will it be necessary to again scurry around in order to shanghai men to serve as Mayor and Councillors for the ensuing two years, or will our citizens remove this reproach by galvanising themselves into action and salf-sacri-lice for Foxton’.s welfare and prosperity ?