Canterbury's Interests.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16727, 9 January 1920, Page 6

Canterbury's Interests.

The Progress League is acting wisely ir. taking up its work again without delay, and it is an oxcellent idea to begin tho present year's operations with a meeting which tho Canterbury members of Parliament aro to attend. Thero is no reason why the members should not all pull together as a Canterbury party, and there are very strong reasons why they should. Canterbury has suffered iii tho past—as wo frequently urged last year, and as most people consequently came to realise —through tho indifference to tho province's interests which was usually displayed by tho almost solid Liberal block that this province for so long sent to Parliamont. This indifforencowas ono of tho reasons why wo urged Canterbury to mako a drastic chango in* its representation in Parliament!, and thero can bo littlo doubt that the feeling that new blood was Accessary to tho health of tho province had its effect at the polls. The public will now look to Canterbury's members to repair the neglect of past years, and to follow the cxamplo of activity and vigilnnco Bot by tho Auckland representatives. We do not intend to compare the present representation of Canterbury with its representation in iho lost Parliamont. except upon ono point, and that is its volume. In tho last Parliament there were thirteen Canterbury members; in tho new Parliament thero aro twelve. This fact emphasises the need for strong and united action by this province in defence of its claims, which have always I'cen contested by Auckland, and which will bo contested moro strongly than ever In the future. Tho very last thing we wish to see is antagonism between the provinces, but as matters stand at j resent we in Canterbury can secure justice only by fighting those who have grudged us even tho email consideration we have received during the past fifteon or twenty years. Is it not, however, possible for tho Progress J Leaguo and for the Canterbury mem- 1 bers to adopt as ono of tho objects of provincial endeavour tho ending of the conditions that mako provincial antagonisms inevitable? It will probably be a good many years before there can bo any large devolution of the general government's responsibilities for development works of various kinds, and under the present system of public works administration the pressure exerted by tho larger provinces cannot but be injurious to tho reasonable claims of Canterbury. This province could not lose through tho transference of responsibility for developmental policy to some body independent of

I I.olitical or pa.ty considerations and I capable of making the national interest the first con-ideration. If such a change were brought about there would bo as much as over for the Progress league to do; there will always be plenty for it to do so lons as there exists in the province the active desire for progress in which tho League has takfrn root.