PROGRESSIVE MASTERTON

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10640, 20 May 1912, Page 5

PROGRESSIVE MASTERTON

ARE WE IN FOR ANOTHER BOOM? BIMABKABIFsaAiBCITY OF HOUSESPROSPECTS OF NEW INDUSTRIES. Although we have arrived almost at midwinter, when commercial and industrial matters are usually at their slackest, Masterton appears to he ex- • jeriencing an era of singulair prosperity. A Wairarapa; Age .reporter had earae exceedingly interesting valusffle information imparted to him on Saturday when on a tour of investigation among local comimercial men. Sevhigh authorities on land values eayriiaticallj affirmed that Masterton lad apparently completely recovered from ihe effects of tihe slump that followed the boom of five years ago. One wel-known i|and agent said: "I <oould find tenants for twenty or -thirty good houses if they were available. Just now we agents have only a very few tenements offering on rental, and' there is a strong demand for .-;' Souses.of the villa type, and especially Jot dwellings dose in to town." tc YovL assign no special reason for ibis ?" queried the pressman. "jfa," was the reply. "The town and district have made really remarkable strides in a general way of late. '.Kb doubt the'erection of the Waimgawa freezing works has exercised an exceedingly beneficial effect, and has given the property, market a stability ihat pannot readily oe estimated." , The reporter made enquiries among business- people as to tbe general -tone of business, and it was found that a pleasant and encouraging buoyancy prevailed. The manufacturing trades and retail houses were thoroughly satisfied with business present jand prospective, and it was considered that the ensuing, winter season trould be quite an exception in rejspeet of trade and commerce.' Industries week was a suggestion put to all the persons interviewed, and »ot one had an adverse remark to inake concerning the proposal "Masterton," raid one business man (always foremost in progressive propositions), "needs something in the shape of 'industries week' to awaken it to ' a sense of commercial patriotism,.- Our town is—insensibly -almost- to. resid©>jtsi—rapidly taking it® proper posi„#i&i ais a provincial centre, and if enand patriotic citizens threw combined effort into the .forming of industries that Masterton can easily carry on, there is no doubt but that in a year or two we should rauk as ' one of the Dominion's most solid towns."

The sentiments expressed by this {gentleman wore- endorsed by more than one other crtiaen interviewed. A j prominent resident, who considers ijhiait the meat works need auxiliary industries to increase their usefulness j&d value to the district, said: "There is a aloud on the horizon of Master- , ton no bigger than a man's hand, and this foretells that we aw to have f an advance in manufacturing con- , cerns no one as yet dreams of. Wei- _ Bangton City is far too limited in area to extend its manufacturing businesses to any very considerable extent. lAuirther, we are producing in our dis- , trict raw materiail of immense value, and this is all easily capable of being turned into finished retail products by j right development of our resources. Iriit the townspeople be patriotic and i 4athaisdasitic. Let them support whole iheartedly any progressive proposal— ] and especially any such scheme as a woollen or similar factory— and we Ehall soon progress. It is niggardly support by well to do people that cruiels any big proposal. It is these people who benefit by our district's advance. When the woollen factory scheme is put before the public—as i[ believe it is just about to be— l hope '--""" patriotism will be the distinguishing n),3irk of the share list." It was pleasant to hear these telling remarks, and it indicated to the pressman that a new spirit—commercially revolutionary, so to speak— .was abroad. The gist of the remarks from all! sources indicated that property values in the district are likely to be exceedingly firm for an indefinite time ahead, and when land values are so—particularly with town values— it augurs well for business generally.