LOCAL TOPICS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 314, 14 November 1929, Page 1

LOCAL TOPICS.

(By

“ Verax.”

An Untidy Street,

A correspondent in last week’s Press drew attention to the three , outstanding features of our town. As ■ for the cordiality, it is very evident, and less we suffer from swelled heads over the virtue we will pass it without further comment. The shocking State of our roads is soon a leproach that will be removed, so that can also be dismissed; but the unsightly appearance of Princes street seems likely to remain unless citizens become infected with a sense of civic pride. The Town Board should Certainly provide receptacles for the rubbish. But the residents are also partly to blame. “ Observer ” states (possibly in a spirit of sarcasm) that' there is a suitable place in the Domain for the disposal of rubbish. To do this would indeed be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, and “Verax” often wonders at the action of those responsible for the placing of the town rubbish dump in the Domain, a place (usually) of beauty. To take visitors to the Domain and expect them to be impressed, with a preliminary view of the host of articles that adorn a rubbish tip, is rather over the odds. Putaruru is only a town in the making, it is true, but unfortunately i quite a number of undertakings seem to have been neglected, after having a favourable inception. The Domain comes within this category. When ! 1 the street works are completed, it is I , to be hoped that the subjects men- j tioned by “ Observer ” will receive attention. j j Putaruru Representation. ■ ■

The settlement of the question of the representation of Putaruru on the Thames Valley Power Board, by linking our township with Matamata, is not likely to give any great satisfaction to local residents. In the report of the meeting at which this decision was reached, Messrs. Price and Flatt seemed to be the only members who had sound views, and their advocacy of the ward system is to be commended. Matamata and Putaruru are too far apart to have community of interest; each should have representation on the board. If Te Aroha, which bought power in the bulk, and was therefore (as Mr. Price pointed out) rightly to be regarded as one consumer, are entitled to a representative, surely Putaruru and Matamata have the right to direct and separate representation. Putaruru is so situated geographically that the town is entitled to a voice on the board.

Culture in Schools. The portion of the inspector’s report on the work of the Putaruru District High School dealing with the fact that there is no piano in the local school, makes interesting reading. A great deal of talk has been indulged in of late of the need for an agricultural bias in our educational system, but be this as it may, there can be no question as to the need for a cultural bias. Education should not merely be a training for earning one’s living, but it should include courses that would enable th» rising generation to appreciate the best in music, art and literature. These are not merely frills, as might be suggested, but if a person is to get the most and best out of life, the ability to appreciate such arts is necessary. Life is drab enough as it is, but it would be even more so if it were not for the refining influences of life. It is to be hoped that the reproach against the local school in not having a piano will soon be removed, and efforts will be set in motion to provide the children with this very necessary adjunct to their education. A library and a number of pictures would also make for a better school—more efficient in turning out cultured citizens.