THE BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1938, Page 4

THE BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

JN view of what it has accomplished and of the public support and appreciation it has been accorded freely in the past, the standing of the Masterton Beautifying Society evidently is not to be measured by the fact, that only five people put in an appearance at its annual meeting recently. Due emphasis having been set, however, upon that momentary, but regrettable lapse, there should be no doubt about an adequate and satisfactory attendance at the further meeting to be held on Tuesday evening next. Various distractions, including a European war scare and a lively political campaign, no doubt will account for the undeserved neglect of the society’s annual meeting. Many responsible citizens should be more than ready to affirm, however, that it would be a calamity if an organisation which has done and is doing so much good work for Alasterton were even to suspend activities for a time. No doubt the president of the society (Dr Archer Hosking) is fully justified in believing that, with ample scope for future activities, the support the society has received in the past will be extended again, ft is, as Dr Hosking says, a matter of inducing people who are interested in the town, and particularly younger people, to get together.

All the inspiration that is needed to ensure a renewal and expansion of the activities of the society should be found in considering what it has accomplished during its fifteen years of existence. The planting of ten miles of streets with ornamental trees, a number of them flowering trees, is an item only iir. the list, though a big one. In addition the society has done much to adorn and improve the Masterton Park and other reserves and in one way or another to add to the beauty and attractiveness of the town. A brief account of the activities ami achievements of the society since its inception in 1923 will be found in our news columns today.

Everyone who gives the matter a moment’s thought will agree that the. work of the society should be carried on and extended. The best of all methods of showing appreciation of what the society has'done and is doing, and of ensuring that its activities shall lie carried on with full vigour, is to join its membership. People who would be dismayed to see the society abandon its activities should bear in mind, with reference to the meeting on Tuesday evening next, that the occasion is definitely one on which the too prevalent practice of leaving it to somebody else ought- W he discarded.