DEVELOPMENT OF POVERTY BAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1958, 29 March 1919, Page 1

DEVELOPMENT OF POVERTY BAY.

A contributor to the Poverty Bay Herald apparently feels very strongly on the question of what is to be the future of Gisborne and Poverty Bay, for he expresses his views in no uncertain manner. Certainly that future is dependent upon the construction of a safe harbour, he writes, but it is, however, much more dependent upon the rapid and sane development of the unopened interior. Harbour construction should be collateral with the pushing out of feeders by road and rail. The Herald has done good service in again forcibly drawing attention to the vast undeveloped resources of the Waiapu and East Cape districts. Nothing is too strong to be said as to the culpable neglect of these districts by successive responsible Ministers. Government recognition ims been content to stand at a few annua! votes dragged out by the local bodies in the formation of natural roads; in result to be washed away almost as soon as I hey have been formed. If a business firm owned the present railway to Motu, where it ends, would not such a firm at once proceed to see what feeders could be found, not only to make the short line remunerative, but to j;each the original objective—connection with the Bay of Plenty and Auckland?

The Waiapu ami East Cape districts could absorb and utilise the energies of the whole of our returned soldiers and then be clamant for more population. Is there any reason why alternate blocks of land in this rich territory should not be resumed and paid for in war bonds at pre-war valuation plus a reasonable ■percentage. The men being settled in large numbers and under some organised control would find utable employment in the construction of the railway feeder from Tc Karaka, thus aeeumulating some private funds for the purchase of .‘■Lock and necessary materials.

Is it not time that the people of the district awoke to the fact that under the political system Governments help those who help themselves ? Governments hale the importunate, but give (hem all they ask. The poorest districts get the most attention, because they arc the most clamorous.

Public bodies, the Chamber of Commerce ,the Labour unions, the farmers’ unions, together with every form of local and private energy, should combine in united action to

conserve and develop the national wealth.of the district. Progress is imperative. AVe have learnt to think in millions, and what has been done under the exactions of war without return can be done in the time of peace with overflowing reward.