PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16254, 3 July 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

CONSTITUTION DISCUSSED

QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION.

A meeting of the Executive Commit-* too of the Canterbury Progress League was held at the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Presont—The Mayor (.Air H. Holland), the Hon. J. Uarr, and Messrs T. W. Iteeso, C-. T. Aschman, D. 0. iSullivan, P. R. Ciimio, W. J. Jcnkin, A. G. Henderson, B. McGregor Wright, A. I<\ l>rayton, A. Kayo, J. A. ij'lesiier, 6>. A. Staples, A. o. laylor, A. Ju. Cliappcil, ami D. Hoare (secretary pro tern.;.

Mr (.I. W. Leadiey wrote, expressing the thanks of the .North Canterbury branch of tho New Zealand Mariners' Union for an olfer of two seats on tho executive, and stating that Mr Bates (representing the central branch of tho Union) and he himself had been appointed the Union's representatives on the executive. Tho writer suggested that the executive's meetings should be held in tho morning, and, further, that tlie League should take up the question of forestry, which he regarded as ono of great importance.

The chairman said that tho League's activities covered such a wide field that it was unnecessary, he thought, to mention them in particular terms. Forestry would naturally receive attention among other things.

The Constitution Committee, acting upon a resolution of tho executive at its last meeting, submitted the basis of a constitution such as it had had time to prepare. It was stated that tho committee had had before it for this purpose tho constitution and rules of a former Canterbury Leaguo, and of the Southland league. The clauses submitted were primary ones, as the committee had not had time to prepare the secondary, or machinery, clauses. The aims and objects, as outlined in the proposed constitution, are as follows:— The League shall be an entirely nonparty organisation, to promote and assist any movement for the advancement of Canterbury, and by united public action, or by other, means, to secure the co-opelation of town and country to that end.

(a) in the matter of railways, roads, and other, liiearis of communication. (b) In the development of shipping, commercial, and genoral business facilities.

(c) In tlie promotion Of the iridustrial, agricultural, and pastoral interests of the province. (d) In tho encouragement of education.

( c ') _In the extension generally—and especially to all country districts—of tlie hydro-elcctric scheme.

.(f) In the improvement arid extension of parks and scenic reserves; and in the promotion of town-planning schemcs.

(S) In the advertisement within.New Zealand arid abroad of the advantages of Canterbury as a field of business 11 place of residence,... (h) In making more widely known the attractions of Canterbury to tourists, anglers, and sportsmen generally. fi) In Collecting and publishing relinble itp-to-dnto information of the industries, trade, commerce, exports import?, ncricnlture, modes of investment, climate, health, cost of living natural condition, market's, holidity and pleasure resorts, sj/orf, etc., of th 6 province, and generally in whatever direction th« Lo»<nie may decide to take bnrv" advancement of Caiiter,provicted that membership of the Lpguo should bo available to mdifiSjl V'?r II,R within the nr ® a > business firms, trading concorns, arid iricorporwill!;» C( V} ipnniCS on business 1; „ S a , ren > county and town counnnrl Ji 0 "i i 9 s i, councils; t!f 1 I °™ , authorities, drily constituted, friendly societies, clubs, associations, rogisterbd ritlioiiß, arid all similar organisations whose purposes are nbfc antogon.st.c to,tho purpose* of S fm-med'o? rOV ' f® d at , no ° r ßariisation fprmed or existing exclusively or mairiRcntation and voting power should be Used upon contribution to the funds & a r"" 1 m , thc mann er following; + individual member shall be eri*Si ° n f l" ote ' , to exercised pernrffnll'*"' loeal authority, club, Sri!f a +hn n T ° r combn ? ati6 , n of persons if SV , f^ ag rie under the provisioiili set OU t in clause 5, bhin to ."no representative for the first £50. or fraction thereof, contributed during the year iri which the meeting is held, and to one additiorial representative. for each additional £60 or part thereof so contributed ; each representative to be entitled to one vote. r °vision is lriade for ,the appointment of sub-committees at tho annual meeting, who would lie entitled to nominate one representative each to act on the executive.

_ It was stated that, in the meantime, it was understood that the Propaganda Committee was approaching local bodies on the question of finance; and it was suggested" that when replies had been received, these two committees should confer and bring down a further report, and, if necessary, amended suggestions regarding the constitution. Considerable discussion took place regarding the best methods of representation of members of tho League, whether individual or corporate bodies, on the executive.

It was explained by the Hon. J. Barr that tlie proposed constitution was in the nature of a provisional bnc, and that wh<>n the League was fully materialised it would probably be necessary to make a thorough revision of it. H<! further stated that he personally was opposed to any .scheme of representation which did not recognise the individual member other than as a member of a particular branch. It was decided to refer clauses 8 and 9 (tJio.se referring to representation on the executive) back to the Constitution Committee for a further report. The other douses were ndopted. Mr P. R. Climie's suggestion that Mi* A. G. Henderson should bo included in the Constitution Committee was adopted, he being an exponent of a constitution partially alternative to that formulated by the committee.