The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1914. PULLING TOGETHER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 12, 2 June 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1914. PULLING TOGETHER.

The people of Taranaki have never pulled together. The truism that "unity is strength" has never appealed to them. They have .preferred to go their own way, to fight for their own particular interests, without regard for the common good of the province generally. Between the different towns, ecpecially in the south, there has been not a little jealousy and antagonism. Between northern and southern Taranaki there has existed something worse—a feeling of distinct hostility and bitterness. Has there been any justification for such a feeling? We unhesitatingly say there has not been. This unfortunate and undesirable condition of affairs has been due to ignorance or misunderstanding on the part of some of our leading public men. They have failed to understand tho view point of others; they have allowed prejudice to affect their judgment; tliey have failed to see anything beyond what immediately concerned or benefited them, and failed also to rise above their own selfish considerations. Often, too tlicy have been at cross purposes. Is it any wonder then, that Taranaki as a whole lias been so disunited in the past? But if what took place al Opunake the other day may be taken as a criterion, 'here is a new and

healthier spirit animating our public men. All differences were sunk at Thursday's ceremony, the representatives of every public body of importance in the province who were present showing by their very presence if not by their utterances that the starting of the much needed railway had their whole-hearted support and sympathy. This striking unanimity on the part of our public men in this matter suggests the thought that the time is opportune for the people of the province to take stock of tilings and ask themselves if it is not wise and advisable to join hands and pull together. Taranaki admittedly is progressive and prosperous. But it is nothing to what it can be made were its people united and determined. It is recognised that the Opunako railway is a necessary work and will largely assist in the development of that portion of the provinco which it will serve. There are other works in Taranaki just as necessary and deserving of the support of all sections. There is, for example, the Stratford main trunk railway. Its construction is proceeding at a snail's pace, and we will bo lucky if the connection is made in ten years' time, at the present rate of progress. Here Tara- ■ liaki should demand in one strong voice that the work should be considerably expedited. There is also the OpunakeMoturoa line, which tho settlers themselves are desirous of undertaking because of the Government's inability to authorise it at present. Taranaki as a whole should lend its support to the settlers in their laudable desire to help themselves. Then there is the opening of road communication between Taranaki and Auckland, via the Mokau. •It is scandalous that a highway of such national importance should have been so long neglected and that at only favored times of the year it is open to vehicular or motor traffic. Even the Mokau river has not yet been bridged. Taranaki should fight as one man to have this remedied at tho earliest possible date. Next we come to the harbor. In the past, opposition to its development has been strong and insistent from certain parts of Taranaki. A better example of disunion, distrust, suspicion and misunderstanding among a section of our people than has been evinced over the construction of a deep-sea har-. bor at New Plymouth we cannot find. There has boon no logical reason, no justification for this altitude. The harbor .improvement scheme is proving quite successful. Producers are about to receive a direct benefit by obtaining their fertilizing supplies direct from England. That is but the beginning of a direct service that must benelil not only property-owners within the Xow Plymouth harbor district—who, by the way have for several years net been

called upon to pay harbor rates—'but tin; whole of the people of Taranaki. ffad it not been for the prescience, grit and determination of the men at the

heai of affairs, tho harbor could never have been other than a coastal port. As for the other Taranaki ports, Mokau, Waitara, Opunako and Pa tea, let them be improved by all imeans. Schemes to this" end are now under consideration by the respective boards, and wo feel sure no one will feel more gratified at their su'jcossful outcome than the New Plymouth people, who realise, or should realise, 1 that the development of the neighboring ports must prove of advantage, not only to thoso directly concerned, but to everyone in. the province. This one fact has to be borne in mind

that what benefits one part of the province must benefit tho whole. Were this truth realised moro, there would bo no disunity, no distrust, no suspicion and mo misunderstanding- among our folk. Taratiaki's leading public men might with advantage come together more often, talk things over, and decide upon a common platform and co-operate with each other in its attainment. There is to be a function promoted by tho New Plymouth Harbor Board to celebrate the arrival of the Walkure at Moturoa to which, representatives of the various public bodies of Taranaki have been invited. This will be a good opportunity to exchange ideas and learn something ©f each others' motives and plans. Perhaps one of the other Taranaki towns will later on call together our public bodies and Parliamentary representatives. In this way the misunderstandings and prejudices characterising tho past will bo broken down -and a new and bright era for Taranaki bo ushered in'.