Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1943. A TOWN ASSOCIATION?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1943. A TOWN ASSOCIATION?

jY GOOD deal might be said in suppprt of the suggestion made by a correspondent (Mr J. 11. Cunningham), in a letter published in this paper on Friday last, that it is more than time to form “a body of responsible citizens to study and advise upon matters of importance -to the community.” It is not in doubt that valuable and helpful work might be done by a body of this kind, particularly in a period like that on which we are now entering. What has to be determined, and is well worth putting to the test, is whether the suggested association can be formed with the breadth and weight of support that are essential if it is to function effectively. The Masterton Chamber of Commerce did a great deal of good work in its day, but ultimately faded out of active existence because this work was left to a diminishing handful of people. The Wairarapa Progress League made what appeared to be a promising beginning. It Ayas most capably organised and had it been supported adequately and unitedly might have operated with great advantage to the whole district. It collapsed for want of a sufficient perception and appreciation of the material benefits to be derived from purposeful combined action by representatives of town and country in affairs of mutual concern. Something no doubt is to be learned from these experiences of tlie comparatively recent past. In the time that lies ahead, the welfare of any community is likely to be dependent not a little upon, its ability or inability to mobilise on broader and freer lines than those of local body and other official organisations. A new departure of this kind might very well be made in Masterton, with the understanding that an association constituted here would be very willing to co-operate with similar bodies in other parts of the district. Whether the Chamber of Commerce should be revived is a matter for consideration.. There is a possible objection to the use of that name in the fact that it suggests a narrower and more specialised outlook than is desirable in a community association —a narrower outlook, indeed, than was accepted by the Masterton Chamber of Commerce during its extended period of active existence. The association needed should be prepared to deal with all affairs of moment to the community, subject only, as our correspondent suggested, to the exclusion of party political or religious discussion. The vital underlying question concerns the amount of spontaneous, active and sustained public support a community association, whatever it may be called, can be expected to enlist. Unless a large active membership can be secured, the establishment of a community association, would be a futile waste of time. This at least may be taken as having been demonstrated conclusively in past experience. A great deal may be accomplished by a competent executive committee, but if a community association is to exercise an effective influence for good, it must have a big membership and its members generally must be prepared to take an active interest and part in the shaping of proposals and in helping to have these proposals carried into effect. Work of great value to Masterton and the whole district undoubtedly might be done by an actiyemnd enterprising community organisation in dealing, not only with the questions of town-planning and earthquake restoration mentioned by our correspondent, but with many others. There is, for example, the very important matter of securing a wider spread and distribution of manufacturing industries into provincial and rural areas. Provincial districts like the Wairarapa must bestir themselves in a purposeful way if progress is to be made on these lines. Everything returns to the consideration, however, that only an organisation with a. numerous and an active membership could deal in a really helpful and useful way with affairs of this kind.