BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 416, 13 June 1947, Page 6

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Negahinepouri’s Community Life

land. Farming district seven miles by motor from Hamilton. Rural delivery from Ohaupo." That's what Wise’s New Zealand Index says. Those who have been there know that Ngahinepouri is neither a town nor a village. It might be called a setilement or, perhaps, in the words of Mark Rutherford, "not a town properly speaking, but the country a little thickened and congested." Passing motoris's would scarcely turn their heads. There’s no store, no "pub," only a community-nall and a school-house. Ngahinepouri means "sorrowing young women"; its history is enriched with the struggles of the early settlers against the raids of the Maoris. Bighty years ago Cec Auck-

the only means of transport was the Waipa River which flows near by; supplies came up the river by paddle-boat and canoe. To-day Ngahinepouri is prosperous, even wealthy. There’s nothing unusual, about the inhabitants-the largest proportion of them, like most people living in the country, voted against the Government la:t November. If an artist were to paint the scene, Mount Pirongia, the district landmark, would take its place in the background; around it would be gently-rolling pastures for both fat sheep and cattle, pleasant homes, and English trees. This description is in no sense coloured by "artistic wistfulness": hardbitten stock and station agents would not. hesitate to admit that here is some of New Zealand’s best farming country. x % % \WHAT of the people? They are mainly farmers and the families of farmers and are therefore busy people; and yet they have found time to build and develop community, activitieS right outside the sphere of producing butterat, meat, and wool. Three and a-half years ago the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union (now Federated Farmers) began social activities and enter:ainments on a small scale in the Ngahinepouri Hall, The idea took on, interest grew, and the wife of a well-known farmer, Mrs. J. M. McWhannell, formed what became known as the Community Centre. More than half the "Ngahinepourians" joined, and the co-operation of the Auckland Adult Education Centre was enlisted. Ngahinepouri was brought into a scheme of discussion courses, all the data and notes being sent by post to the district, but organisation and leadership being provided by the residents themselves, Drama, literature, a choral group, gardening, and carpentry classes all flourished. A discussion group, meeting for‘nightly, was formed by another farmer’s wife, Mrs. Ian Smith: she has four children, but still finds time to act as the group’s secretary. Their meetingplaces are the homes of the members,

The gardening group began when Mr. and Mrs. McWhannell, themselves keen horticulturists, offered their garden as the subject for a series of lectures. Over the past few years the dtama group has put on plays which have packed the little hall, A hobbies club for the men was begun by the local schoolmaster, Mr. Hancock. ' The Library, in many respects the nerve-centre of the community, is housed in the Hall and is run by Mrs. Hancock, the schoolmaster’s wife. She, too, has young sons to look after. Members of the Community Centre borrow books free of charge and the proporiion of non-fiction read is considerable. Books are supplied by the National Library Service which, in addition té making calls with the Library van, provides a regular hamper request service free to the community. In developing the Centre, stress has been placed on the needs of the children and younger people. One achievement has been to teach all the young people to dance and to provide dances for them at Ngahinepouri so that they are not dependent on Hamilton to provide their entertainment. * * ES MONTH or so ago, the people of Ngahinepouri organised a community holiday, and though one is loath to use the word, they made it a "cultural" one. Having decided to hold a Com. munity Week, they secured the co-opera-tion of the Auckland Adult Education Centre: and into Ngahinepouri came a stream of lecturers from the city, all specialists in their own fields. The Week opened with a concert, followed by lectures on a variety of subjects-music, child psychology, vocational guidance, drama-when fresh viewpoints from the city met and merged with country opinions. The "local angle" was introduced through lectures on the history of the district, and a day was taken visiting places of historical interest. A special fixture for the men was a visit to the Government’s Animal Research. Station at Ruakura, where the manager conduc.ed 50 farmers round the estate discussing points of farming interest. The drama circle provided an evening’s entertainment with The Blank Cartridge and documentary films were shown by the _ schoolmaster,

At the end of the" week a cricket’: match was arranged between the Young Farmers’ Club and local players at the Stewart Reid Memorial Park. Saturday wound up with a dance at the Hall, and on Sunday a special church service was held. % Fea [HE story told here is probably no different, except in details, from the story that could be told about several rural communities in New Zealand. Activities such as those described help to break down the gap that often exists between town and country. In the beginning, some of the older settlers looked askance at the whole idea of a Community Centre for Ngahinepouri, but they have since come into it as keen members and will acknowledge that it has brought a new spirit into the district, enabling the people to enjoy advantages which tend to be a monopoly of city life while at the same time preserving their own way of living and

working.

G.

F.