PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16265, 16 July 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

CITY COUNCIL'S WARM

SUPPORT.

A deputation from the Canterbury Progress League, consisting of Alessr* G. M. Hall and C. T. Aschman, and Dr. C. Chilton, waited upon the City Council last evening to solicit support from the Council for the League, to help it to carry out its objects for the advancement of Canterbury.

Mr Hall said the deputation's object in waiting on the Council was to interest the Council in the League, and solicit its support. The purpose of the League was to promote the development and the advancement of Canterbury. They asked the Council to give the people of Canterbury a strong lead.

Dr. Chilton said the objects of the League wero set out in the circular which had been distributed. (Jne plank was an improvement in the means of communication. Consequently tho League would assist to secure better train facilities. By means of motor cars, etc., Canterbury should shortly have splendid means of communication. The League was also looking forward to being able to assist the industrial and agricultural life of the prq?ince. . It hoped to secure experimental farms, besides extending the facilities at Lincoln College. It hoped to imitate new things besides extending those in existence. It hoped to improve tho conditions of country life obtaining for tho country many of tfto advantages of city life. The League hoped to assist country people in tho establishment of libraries, school, etc. It hoped to promote the extension of the Lake Coleridge scheme to country districts. Tho League's programme was a very wide ono. It was proposed to carry it out by tho co-operation of the various districts. The League also desired to point out what had already been done in Canterbury, to collate the province's scenic, weather, and other advantages, and publish the information in booklets to be distributed in other parts. This would influenco persons to settle in Canterbury. The League's programme would necessitate the support of all the local bodies m Canterbury, and accordingly they, . had approached the City Council witha view to it setting the ball rolling. They did not, however, approach the Cotincil as a suppliant. One great advantage of the League was to act as an advisory body to tho City Councif and all the other local bodies. The other great advantage was that the League would bring all the local bodies into collaboration together, and thus improve conditions in Canterbury. Mr Aschman said self-interest played no part in tho minds of the members of the League; all they desired was the welfare and advancement of the provinco. Ho'assurod them that the men associated with tho League were worthy of tho Council's confidence. Thero were no dreamers behind the " League, but solid business and profes- /V sional men. In appealing to tho local bodies for aid, the League was indirectly appealing to the people of • Canterbury. ' The League could not =«: continue to exist without financial aid, ■ and the local bodies were tho only organisations the Leaguo could approach » : for support. In the League's; platform ' ! special emphasis was > laid upon tno securing of reciprocal rela- -i? tions between town and coun- . try. The League aimed at re- > ; ! ; moving the isolation of country life. The country depended upon tho town v - and th» town upon the country, and the success of both depended upon the buccess of either. The "Progress Leaguo > p had infinite possibilities. _ Even if it) -//i achieved only half what it set out to do it was bound to he a factor in tho Jeoonomic and social life of Canterbury. In reply to Cr. Howard, the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) said the Auditor-Gene- - ral lind notified the town Clerk that local bodies had power to contribute to the fund. V

The Mayor said the Council had that evening put upon its estimates the fol- . • < lowing item: "Progress League 6d per • £1000 on capital valuo, on condition J that 85 per cent, of expected contributions are guaranteed, otherwise the vote . i to be reduced in proportion to amounb euaranteed."' This meant that the .<! Council's grant would be £324 16g 3d. • Tho deputation thanked the Coun- . ; cil and withdrew. Cr. Fleslier said tho Council should go further, and sot a lead in the matter. Ho moved: ... "That this Council to ox- * press its entire sympathy with tho aims and objects of tho Canterbury Progress League, and pledges itself . to do all in its power to secure tho attainment of tho same." Cr. Sullivan seconded tho motion. ' Cr. Ell advocated better graded roads to hill lands. Cr. Howard hoped the Progress \ League would not grow so big that ifl would lose sight of Christchurch. Ho urged the formation of a progress league for the city also. >: Cr. Taylor said that one of the principal objects of tho was to establish local branches. What better : nucleus for a Christchurch branch could bo secured than the members of the City Council P The motion was carried unanimously. Cr. Climie moved that the Council authorise its Financ© Committee to nay to the League the 6um of £324 15s 3d, subject to tho. condition indicated! in the estimates.

•Cr. Hnyward in seconding the motion, said he hoped that the Progress Leacue would be a'means of removing disabilities under which they had been suffering.

Cr. Sullivan thought it would ba better to lenve tho ouestion of paymont open. He would like the restriction removed, and the payment mado as a progressive one. , ~T'. le Mayor said the Leacrue's possibilities were tremendous. Canterbury's necessity for presenting a united front became more patent every day. Ho hailed with pleasure the suggestion that the Council form itself into the local branch of the League. As chairman of the Leacrue he thanked the Council for tho generous support it had given. Cr. Ple«her said it was necossarv to rniso £-200 D a year for the League to do effective work. He did not think it was at all unreasonable to ask local bodies brides tho Council to do their share and if the .condition of the grant went through it would act as an inoento other local bodies to assist. The resolution was carried unanimously.