MASTERTON To PONGAROA

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10541, 25 January 1912, Page 4

MASTERTON To PONGAROA

[To The Editot.Z Kindly permit m© space -wherein I to make a few suggestions vfUdh the ' Masterton Chamber of Commerce may do well to consider. At the last meeting -of that body, .several members waxed .somewhat enthusiastic over a proposed coach or motor service between Masterton and Pongaroa. I quite agree with the Masterton Cham- ■ ber that the .people of the closer-sett-I led district north of Aifredton deserve 1 something better than a uwud road 'and a once a week mail service. The • manner in -which the has .'taken the matter tip savoursjwihat of selfishness... 'Apparently the, ! Masterton people are totally ignorant {of the [fact that Eketahuna has>the first- call-onAlfredtoa. and the more northerly district. Personally, I 'think 'that it would have been a more 1 generous as well as a business-like action, find the Masterton Chamber ! consulted the Eketahuna Chamber . upon the proposed service, and have ! arrived at some amicable agreement, instead of trying to out the ground from under tlie feet of its ' smaller contemporary, Masterton business s>eople must sooner or later recognise the. fact that Eketahuna is one of its best customers; w& .that- it acts" as a distributing, centre 1 .for Masterton ; juSt the same as Pahiatua, which '< is tlie I Pongaroa district headquarters; acts, las a distributing centre for Palmer-, ston. No doubt it will not be very ! long before there will be a direct ! coach or motor service between Masterton •andr[l>annevirKe. It will pay Masterton at the present time to assist- Eketahiuna to get a direct daily service to Pengaroa, since if EketaIbunsris successful ai getting this ser-j-vtiee,-Masterton will get all the trade, wljioli now goes to Palmerston. ~.•;.• At tlie present time there is nearly twenty miles of unmetalled road (between Masterton and Alfredton, via the Wangaeliu, which would Jiave to he metalled before a winter service would be practicable. Would it not be better for .the Masterton people to assist Eketahuna in getting tlie proposed service, and thereby profit accordingly themselves;*'than by reoating an antagonistic .spirit by wanting the whole loaf? Thanking yon in anticipation. —I am, etc., GHAS. OffiOSS.