THAT "BOOST."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 161, 25 November 1912, Page 6

THAT "BOOST."

To the Editor. Sir,—With newspapers brimming over with "boost," and so-called leading townspeople actively associated with a "boost" movement—let ns hope it won't "bust" them—it is rather characteristic of Now Plymouth that nothing has yet been heard of a scheme to cope with the .suggestion of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce. The '-boosters" can boost away to their hearts' content, but of what use is all this expenditure of surplus energy if the port is to be robbed in this way? Editors may write, and scoffers may scoff as long as they like about the AVaitara harbor and the chances of importing through Waitara, but wiseacres in olden days pooh-poohed the co-operative dairying movement. Cooperation has worked marvels for Taranaki, and if the Stratford men send out such advocates as seem to have turned the heads of her business men lately on daylight saving schemes, then we may expect to see Inglewood and other towns joining in. Unity is strength, and a strong country combination like the one suggested will undoubtedly be able to divert trade from our port, particularly .as I am told by a business man in the country that the goods landed in Waitara -are often despatched more quickly to their destinations than those put on to the wharf at New Plymouth and afterwards hung up in the railway goods shed. Somehow it ;s borne in upon even my dull comprehension that Jfew Plymouth is not popular among the rising* inland towns, and they don't follow her lead very often, possibly because she so seldom tries to lead, and when she does try she puts forward schemes which upon even a passing investigation show the cloven hoof. Can't New Plymouth men ! make this the business capital, the headquarters of .ill progressive movements? Or are we to be content to go to Stratford for our shipping improvement and railway league organisation, and foot-' ball management, and so on; and to Eltham for our butter-boxes and chopping carnivals; to Inglewood for our one northern bacon factory; to Waitara as the headquarters of the meat-freezing industry, and so on? A live spirit in the old provincial Capital.. could have held mucli of this business here. Here we have the men with the money. There they haven't had'the money,' but have had the enterprise and the need for money. It isn't .wealthy men, Sir, that make a town move, but enterprising men, who are prepared to take commercial risks. But lam getting away from my subject. I would suggest that the president of the Taranaki Mutual Admiration Society (otherwise known as the Chamber of Commerce) bestir himself..in,., this very important matter, or, failing a move in that direction, that the league, the Employers'-:,, Association, the Harbor Board, or the Borough Council take it: up. There are.plenty to do the work, you see, and the only question is. Who is going to checkmate this Stratford movement? Our interests are really 1 identical with Stratford's. Our ambitions are-the same-, but our ambitious, neighbor threatens to get ahead of us, despite our New Plymouth-to-Opunake J railway, which seems to have busted the ' Stratford hraajeh. : from 'favor locally. In starting any scheme Jo meet the requirements of the Stratford Chamber oi Commerce, though, we must for the time drop the high . and. mighty assumption that Tarartiki'can't get along without the New Plymouth breakwater, and remember that the breakwater can't do much without .the. country. trade. I have written : a-t"'much' greater length than I intended, Mr,, Editor,, but I trust you will find Toom for my letter.—l am, etc, ;■• '■■ ''■ \' FIGHTER. ' New Plymouth, 21/11/12.