OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1921, Page 5

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent,} It was swarming time with the juo» veniles on Saturday—-free matinee atl the new theatre. The opening of the new theatre on/ Saturday night attracted a large crowd.Long before the time for opening pie were congregated in large at the doors. * I The band social was a very success* , ful affair. A dance is perhaps the most popular amusement in the conn-1 try, but the elder people do not attenAz them. If the band put on a concert!' programme it would be a financial cess. A large number would attend W, concert. The Oeo riding is complaining the increased rate levied by the Egmonw Council. A meeting was held at PiJ hama, and the promoters raised the) question of seceding from the Egmont” county. Ratepayers have every right 1 to hold meetings and ventilate thair.grievances, but the question of seceding: is one that is held over the heads ofn councillors in a manacing attitude often. It shows a very poor sport on I the part of ratepayers when they use* such means to gain advantage oven other parts of the county. If there is any district that has displayed an unprogressive spirit regarding road-making it is Oeo Southern. Tho failure to take up the progressive road proposals twelve years ago is the cause of the present position. The ratepay* ers who haw x the time and ability to raise county problems above the parochial spirit have in the past failed in their duty, in so far as they have not taken that interest in county affairs

that they should have done. Ratepayers cannot expect councillors to devote all their time in finding ways and means for giving them good roads and light rates. Efficiency is only partly discharged at the council table if ratepayers do not take their share, in assisting. Frequently one hears the remark “that work done on the roads it slopped, up, or such and such is neglected, but; it is not my duty.” It is their duty. IC ratepayers in the various ridings or living on roads where the work is carried! out. would interest themselves in suds work when they have to pay the piper, more efficiency would result. Ratepayers are entitled to see that they get a fair return for the money* they pay. Hard times are in front ofl us, and efficiency or economy does nofi begin or end by reducing wages, but ini preventing waste in every direction. It is up to the ratepayers to get above the parochial line and be fair minded, and give their councillors every assistance and not hamper them in the charge of their duties by threats of se4 cession. Local bodies will not attract good, serviceable men if ratepayers be-s come carping critics instead of assistants. On Monday evening the big yellow mail ’bus from New Plymouth collided with the county engineer’s motor-oar on the main road near Longfellow Road intersection. Both cars were damaged by the impact. The monthly meeting of the Town Board was held on Monday evening. Messrs. C. A. Trotter (chairman), Richards, J. P. Burton, R. P. Malcolm, and Dr. Watt were present. The foreman reported that repairs to street* had been done and the main channels cleaned out. It was decided to proourd 100 seats for the Town Hall, providing the ones on offer are satisfactory. The board agreed to become trustees of the section of land belonging to the Opunake Town Board. Formal notice was given to strike a l|d rate over the rating area. The board fixed the 20th instant as the date of election for me Opunake Hydro-Electric Power Board. Sanitary matters were, dealt with in committee. The cemetery and Domain business was of a routine order. A number of very handsome memorial stones have recently ‘been erected in the cemetery. All our dairy factories are taking milk in daily.