NGAMOTU BEACH.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1918, Page 4

NGAMOTU BEACH.

There is in most communities an element that is "agin the Government," that seeks to impede .progress, and "queer the pitch" of those who manifest public spirit and enterprise. New Plymouth is blessed—or rather cursed—with this unnecessary evil in a degree greater than most places. To that element belongs the correspondent signing himself in yesterday's issue "21 Years a Ratepayer," who, however justified he may be in his strictures regarding the administration of the borough's a (Fairs—and we are prepared to admit that that administration leaves a great deal to be desired—is distinctly ungenerous and unfair to a body that deserves nothing but gratitude from the public. We refer to the Ngamotu Committee, which he stigmatises as "a money-grabbing institution," and generally as pursuing a selfish policy inimical to its neighbors, the Maoris and the town generally. Only a person ignorant of what the committee has done and is doing, or actuated by animosity, could give expression to such statements. Fortunately for the town, it has some splendid public-spirited committees, and not the least successful are those controlling the various beaches. Ngamotu was the last on the scene, and in the short space of two years it has done wonders, building a pavilion that would be a credit to any city, and being largely responsible for the erection Of a large number of seaside cottages, as Well as improving and beautifying the foreshore, the benefits of which will be more apparent as time passes. Tho members of the committee, or board—for they constituted themselves a limited liability company in order to better finance the undertakings—have put in a great deal of gratuitous labor, from which they expect to reap no personal Advantage, all being done for the good of the community. We have no desire to deal with the several points our correspondent brings against the committee; we have no doubt that satisfactory replies will be forthcoming; but we do wish, not only to repudiate the insinuations against the committee, but. to pay a tribute to their zealous and unselfish efforts on behalf of the town in making their part of the beach the attractive and popular place it is to-day.