THE PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17113, 7 April 1921, Page 8

THE PROGRESS LEAGUE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL The quarterly meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Progress Leaguo was held yesterday afternoon, Mr A. G. Henderson presiding over a large and representative attendance. Apologies were received for tho absence of the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, the Hon. W. H. Triggs, Messrs E. J. Howard, M.P., C. M. Mnlfroy, and J. McCombs, M.P. The chairman outlined tihe principal masters dealt -with since the previous meeting of tho Council, including flie official visit by representatives of local bodies to the Lake Coleridge hydroelectricitv installation: the -visit of the Prime Minister to Canterbury under the League's auspices; the Arthur's Pass tunnel, respecting which the reports were satisfactory; Iho progress being made with the Hilev scheme to facilitate communication between th.9 city and the port; the proposed conference of similar leagues nnd organisations which was to have been held prior to the assembling of Parliament, but which had been postponed owing to Mr Massey's departure for England; and tho publication of a second edition of the League's descriptive Oooklet. Referring to the visit of the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) to Lake Coleridge and to the Arthur's Pass tunnel, the chairman said tlhat after having been in close contact with the Minister, the conclusion that they had arrived at was that his outstanding characteristics were fois straightforward manner and his grasp of details; if there was one characteristic more than another it was the courage and determination with which he faced the job ho had in hand. He doubted if New Zealand ever had a Minister of Public AVorks possessed of such determination to go ahead with a policy once it was decided upon, This was a very fine, characteristic for a Minister of tho Crown to possess.

Financial Position. Mr A. F. Wright, the hon. treasurer, presented the financial statement for the year ended March 31st last,' which, showed that at the beginning of the year tihere was a balance to credit of £794 15s 9d. The receipts for the year totalled £1463 4s (county councils £855 9s 6d, borough councils £BO. Christchurch City Council £l5O, other local authorities £231 lis, associations £4O 18s 6d, sports clubs £55 ss, special donation £50); and the expenditure totalled £1567 9s 7d (salaries £823 10s, motor-car expenses £l6O 3s sd, travelling expenses £9O 18s 2d, rent £7l 10s, grant for publications £lO4 19s 6d, travelling libraries £sl 8s '3d, port communication report £37 5s 2d, Primp Minister's visit £l6 18s, postages, telegrams, and petty cash £7l 7s 2d, printing, stationery, and advertising £BJ. Is /d„ ,general expenses £SB 8s Id). The cash balance at the bank on March 31st last tyas £36318s lid;. other assets were: Motor-car £250, office furniture £'ss. Mr "Wright, in moving the adoption of the statement, said that, as tho League's activities had increased, so its expenditure had increased. During the year the expenditure had exceeded ite income, wiluch, from the League's •point of view, was regrettable." He was not apologising for the expenditure, because the work done had amply justined the amount spent. He made a strong appeal to the business and commercial sections of the community to give financial support to the Leaeuo. Mr G. T. Mufcock seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Farmers' School. Mr G. H Holford spoke on tho question of a farmers' school being held under the auspices of the League at Ijncoln college during the slack season. tie said that such a scheme had proved successful in the North Island atßuaw of Agriculture, and the Farmers' Union had promised their support. He desired to know if the Council agreed to the executive continuing the organising work in connexion with the school. It was decided to empower the execu-

MEETING OF EXECfUTIVE. The executive of the Canterbury Progress League met last evening, Mr A G.Henderson presiding T p e w°?? e Was e f tended *» M r Cyrus J. B. Williams, who took his seat on the executnre for the first time, w m C the Finance Commit, tee, Mr J A. Flesher, submitted a financial statement as given at the afternoon a . nd expressed the opinion tftat the position was a satisfactory one, in ordinary circumstances, though, it anything, extraordinary happened there would not be too much to spare. in seconding the adoption of the statement, Mr W. K. McAlpine expressed the opinion that the League's officers had looked after its affairs extremely well, and the position was a most, satisfactory one. . Mr A. F. "Wright did not consider the position satisfactory, seeing that without the balance from the previous year, the League would have been two or three hundred pounds behind". The League had done splendid work, arid it 'would be a very regrettable thing if the work of the League were in any way curtailed by lack of funds. He hoped that every available effort would be made to secure funds.

Mr McAlpine pointed out that much revenue should be forthcoming from the various firms in Christchurch. Mr P. R. Climie, the organiser, however, had so much work to do that it would not be fair to expect him to do canvassing of firms as well. Mr Fletcher pointed out that there was still £IOO or more outstanding from local bodies. .

The statement was adopted. l

Mr Climie gave a verbal account in committee of his interview --with the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, on the Harper river diversion question. After a very lengthy discussion, It was decided, "That the resolution Sassed by the Council be sent on to the linister, and that the members of Parliament representing Canterbury be invited to discuss the matter with the Emergency Committee of the League, with a view to further action by them." Mr Climi* submitted a report on his recent visit to, Hanmer (Springs, a full account of which was recently published. Mr Climie said- that, though the accommqdation difficulty was largely due to the military people, the military authorities were "as much up against it" as anyone else, as was evidenced by their erection of tents for accommodation purposes. The report was adopted, and Mr Climie was thanked for, the information he had given. In regard to the South Island Main Trunk Line, the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce wrote that it had carried the following resolution:—"ln .view of the fact that the Minister for Public Works has recently visited the district, and has, with the • Engineer-in-Chief, made a thorough inspection of the proposed railway route through the Wairau valley, via Tarmdale, and as the Minister does not feel disposed to. offer an early prospect of the linking up of the present railway heads, the Minister of Railways be immediately communicated with, and, asked to link U£> the railway heads between _ Parnassus and Wnaranui, with a daily motor service capable of coping with the traffic such linking up would develop, and that the Canterbury Progress League be asked to co-operate with us and use their influence also to bring about the establishment of this service." It was pointed out that the difficulties were very marked, more especially with regard to accommodation at Kaikoura, where there was only one hotel capable.of offering anything -like decent accommodation. Unless bookings were made a week or

ten days ahead there was, absolutely no chance of accommodation at that place. There was no reason v?by the journey should not be made a daily "through" trip. With the speeding up of tho present train from Christchurch to Parnassus, and a fast train from Blenheim to AVharanui linked with a capablemotor service, the journey should b» accomplished between tho two towns within eight hours. It was hoped that the Progress League would give its support in the matter. On the motion of Mr H. Holland, it was decided that tho League should give the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce its heartiest snnnort.