“Taranaki Central Press” TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1937. COMMUNITY LIFE IN STRATFORD.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 337, 19 January 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1937. COMMUNITY LIFE IN STRATFORD.

In commenting yesterday on the dilapidated state of the Stratford Town Hall, we said that there seemed a woeful deficiency of community organisations in the town and district. That was not intended to be a nasty remark but as just criticism in a spirit of helpfulness. Stratford is, after all, a comparatively small town, people are known one to the other fairly generally, and while there is evident a fine spirit of friendliness, there is actually little concerted effort on the part of citizens to pull together in matters of civic welfare. We admit the splendid results which from time to time have been achieved in a material sense and directly from the co-opera-tion of citizens. The Hospital Radio Fund is an example. The manner in which Windsor Park has been formed, though due in the first instance to the energy and enthusiasm of a small group, reflects credit on the community also. But in the intangible aspects of community life the deficiency lies. Where is the opportunity in this town for citizens to meet on a common ground? Could not, for instance, the business men find time occasionally for a luncheon gathering at which the cares of the day would be forgotten in sharing the experiences of others? The formation of musical circles, W.E.A. groups, debating societies and such organisations, could readily stimulate the present inertia which seems to have gripped the town. Preferably, such organisations should be constituted in the widest sense regarding the admission of members. Sectional clubs, though admirable in some respects, lose breadth of vision and experience unless they meet frequently on a common ground with other such groups. If organisations such as these become big, of course, then a suitable headquarters for their activities must be found. And if they embrace the whole town by a wide membership, there is a definite duty on the part of the town to supply such a headquarters. A large musical society, for instance, which would gather members widely, must be provided with a hall in which to rehearse their activities. Which brings us back to the question we discussed yesterday, namely, a T own Hall which could be used satisfactorily. It is a comparatively easy matter to rebuild the civic organisations of the town which have fallen into decay with the decay of the Town .Hall. The Borough Council can do its part in renovating our civic centre and making it a suitable place in which com-

munity organisations could meet. There are people of vision in Stratford who have in the past, and would willingly in the future, work towards such an end. They need but a lead, and that is the duty of the Council.