The Progress League.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17155, 26 May 1921, Page 6

The Progress League.

The Aahburton County Council very wisely decided at it'B meeting yesterday to make a grant to the Progress League on the same scale as the grant made last year. There were two dissentients, one* of whom appeared to base his opposition to the full grant on his mistaken belief that the County was contributing more than its share. The other objector was the chairman of the Council, who urged, firstly, that the Council had to economise, and, secondly,(in' effect), that the League could be done without. "What, 1 ' he asked, "would be the good of a Government "if it was;going to be swayed by the "Progress League, or any similar or"gahisationP The local bodies were ",the proper authorities to bring their " requirements . before the Govern"ment." This severe view of the duty of Governments and of the functions of local bodies is in theory, perhaps, admirable enough, but the theory postulates a nerfect executive and a greater effectiveness for local bodies' letters to Wellington than actually exists. The fact is that no Government anywhere can, evenifit ought to,.withdraw itself to Olympian heights far above the clamour of organisations and Leagues. In New Zealandvat the present time it is particularly necessary'.that the Progress 'League shall be active and aleijt, for it is in competition with rival or-

ganisations. The local bodies are certainly the proper authorities to bring their requirements before the Government, but local bodies which really desire to have their wants supplied ought to be glad of all the assistance that they can obtain. This is now generally reeopTiised in Canterbury, where most local bodies of importance are subsidising the League, and, in out judgment, obtaining good value for their money. It does not surprise us when we find a politician showing his dislike of the League. Politicians dislike anything that lessens their fictitious importance. But it 13 surprising to find that spirit in a local body. Fortunately, most of the members of the Ashburton County Council have a better understanding of the County's real interests in this matter.