PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17155, 26 May 1921, Page 4

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

ASHBTJRTON COUNTY'S GEANT. The question of the amount of the annua) subsidy to be paid to tue .Canterbury Progress League was again dißcuasad at the meeting 01 the Ashbuiton County Council yesterday.

Mr Tuomas Blaokley, in accordance with notice given, moved trtat the tormer resolution making a grant of ±lO7 10 the Canterbury .Progress League be rescinded. The motion was seconded by Mj \V. T. Liil.

Mr W. Goodwin Baid he was in favour Pf granting the usual subsidy of £214 for this year, as the League so iar had not had time to do\wry much of a definite nature. There was no doubt that the lieague was doing good work, and that such an organisation would have more weight-with the Government than a local body, Buch as the County Council. >

Mr G. Murdoch remarked that' the Finance Committee of the Council had decided to reduce the subsidy from motives of economy. ' fie could not say whether the Council was receiving any benefit through the actions of the League. The chairman (Mr C. Reed) said the Progress League ought to economise in its expenditure the same us the County Council now had to do. The question of economy was one of the reasons why the Council had decided to reduce the subsidy by one-half. The Council required a lot of money to , oarry. out necessary, works, and he did not know where. it was going to get it. Mr' W. G. Gallagher said that, for the 'first two years, the Road Boards as well as the Council, had contributed .towards the League, and that the Aaliburton district, for its size, had contributed more than any other portion of Canterbury. Mr H. Maguinness remarked that there was no doubt the League had done good work, and he was of opinion that the Council could well afford to contribute this year as it had done in the past. Mr W. Lochhead considered that the Council had not so far asked the League to do much, but had they asked for more the League would have done it. Mr Langley said Mr Gallagher was not correct in saying that Ashburton County had contributed more towards the League than any other part of Canterbury. It had simply contributed its quota of 6d .per £IOOO of the capital value of the county. The motion'was carried unanimously. Mr Blackley then moved that the Council make the usual grant of £214. The motion was seconded" by Mr A. Horsey.

The chairman said the Council had always been the first to bring its needs before the Government or any, other body. What would be the good of a Government if it was going- to be swayed by" the Progress League, or any similar organisation? The local bodies were the proper authorities to bring their requirements before the Government.

After further discussion, the motion was carried by ten votes to two, the dissentients being the' chairman and Mr Gallagher.