THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1912. GET BUSY!

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10719, 13 September 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1912. GET BUSY!

People whose powers of observation are dimmed by factory-smoke, or whoso optical senses are blurred by the constant assaults of ozone from the ocean, mp' appear to delight in pointing to Masterton as a. township as dull as dishwater, a community hurrying to the grave through aJi over-indulgence in aqua pura, and a generally decadent centre, with no outlook beyond the Wanigawa freezing works. If these people would only pay a visit to our thriving township, their- disillusionment would be speedy and complete. Masterton is not dead. It is not even sleeping. It has passed through a period of rest from boom, and is now girding itself for the good things wl:Vch come to those who wait. On every side, despite the declarations, of pessimists, there aro indications of renewed vitality and of bushiest; expansion. 1 here may not be much animation V.n the building trade. The smaller businesses may appear to be quiet. But the marvellous development in our rural pursuits and the splendid optimism of the majority . ,of our townsmen, are producing results of a far-reaching and tangible character. With wool at lod to l<s per lb; but-ter-fat at Is to Is 3d; frown meat liigh; cereals in great demand, and seasons, favourable in every respect, the outlook for the primary producer is particularly brilliant. And .when the whole of the men on the land aro doing well, the township cannot fail to flourish. The movement to secure further land for closer settlement is pregnant of possibility. The demand for the oponjing up of the back-blocks by railway is an indication of a true progressive spirit. The extension of our system of education; the beautifying of our town; the establishment of the meat and fruit indu,«tries; the formation of institutions for the amusement and instruction of the people; all these are indications of the development of the town and it« environs on eound and permanent lines. Never in. the history of Masterton wero the conditions more hopeful than they are at present. All that in required is combined and sustained ef-

fort to make tha cliiof centre of the potential Wairavapa district one of the most important in the Dominion.. The Chamber of Commerce has been

doing excellent propaganda work during tile past year. The Borough Council k coming to its as6istajice. With fair treatment from the present Government —and we only demand what:- is right and fair—Masterton will il'.nirish as the green bay tree, and will dissipate the cloude of pessimism as ti;o mifit.s are dispersed by the

morning fjun. Those who point to Masterton as a decadent township do not know tho character of its people, nor do they appreciate the natural endowments it possesses l . Five years from to-day Ave predict for Mssterton —greater Masterton —a population of 10,000 souls, with motor services in town and country, flourishing industries, and a highly prosperous and contented people. To -this end let us work with energy and unanimity. Let Ug abandon our little personal aspirations and join as a. community to push our town and district along. In short, as the Americans would say, let us "Get busy."