The Progress League.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 8

The Progress League.

The President of the Progress League, Mr J. H. Blackwell, writes to us today concerning our recent warning to the League to keep itself clear of the polemical methods adopted by the partisan enemies of the Government. We thought, and we still think, that our article was perfectly plain and clear. It gave praise to the League for the useful work it has done, and support to the policy of agitating vigorously for the satisfaction of Canterbury's legitimate needs. But it criticised the tone of the organiser's latest reports, in which there were echoes of the anti-Government nonsense which regularly appears in the Liberal newspapers. In his letter Mr Blackwell makes no allusion to this, the essence of our criticism; and it is difficult to know why he has written at such length to explain other things which evejyone knows and nobody disputes. He does not express his disapproval of the charges and innuendoes of which we complained, and the complaint was so direct that we could scarcely be blamed for assuming that as President of the League he thinks it is right for the League to adopt the Opposition's method of creating prejudice against the Government. We prefer, however, to think that Mr Blackwell does not fully realise that unless the League abstains most strictly from giving approval to the repetition of the local Liberals' stock criticism it will soon cease to enjoy the confidence of the Canterbury public. In concluding his letter Mr Blackwell says that " where unconscionable delays are tak- " irtg place in effecting long-promised "improvements vital to the progress "of Canterbury, this League must, and "will, make vigorous protest. Should "it fail to do so, its usefulness will " have ended. In this policy," he adds, "we think we are fairly entitled to " the whole-hearted support of 'The " 'Press.'" With all this wc certainly agree, but we must point out that the usefulness of the League can come to an end just as easily through using ! the accents of the. Government's ! enemies as through feebleness and inaction. And the whole-hearted support i of " The Press," and of all the friends of the Government —who know that at j the present time loyal support of j the Government is necessary to I save the country from control by [ foolish and reckless men—can be ! retained most surely by the League if ! it resolves to avoid imputations against ! the Government's good faith. This j resolution we hope the League's Executive will make, and keep.