THE PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 11

THE PROGRESS LEAGUE.

10 THE EDITOR or "THE PRBBB-" your leader of the 4th instant, yon suggest that the Canterbury Progress League is in' danger of becoming a partisan political body. For majiy years, under different governments. Canterbury has not progressed in line with other parts of -New Zealand. Its great possibilities, particularly those of developing hydro-electric power and improvement in transport) I facilities, have hcr-n at the 1 mercy ot the (Government of tho day, which for a generation has paid insufficient, heed to requests from, this province* A strong determination to alter this unsatisfactory state . f affairs led to the formation of this. League, in which men of all political parties cooperate for the one purpose of assisting the progress of our province. lu the few years of its existence important work in that direction lias been effecte'd, and the League, by focusing the opinions of it.s constituent local bodies and co-operating with otiier organisations, ha 6 been a factor in this improvement. Sad experience has shown Canterbury that only by bringing unified pressure on tfio Government of the day, whichever Party it may be, can we get satisfaction for our reasonable requests. The League firmly believes that the demands made by this province for improvements on the LytteltonChristehurch railway are reasonable. Canterbury has been definitely promis- ' od these on more than one occasion, and has, more than patiently, sulfered numerous delays. >.ow we are informed by tho Minister that it is probable that, the matter cannot bo considered this session. It is eleven years since this : very necessary overdue work was recommended in the Hiley report. Can ' you wonder that Canterbury. confidence .in Departmental promises is being strained?

During the after-war period of financial upheaval matters had to be held over. If it was shown now that financial or other conditions in New Zealand precluded any forward movement, do reasonable person could urgo extra expenditure. When, however, the country is prospering and big developments in- Public Works and railway improvements are being undertaken, and when comparison shows that Dther parts of New Zealand are enjoying lavish expenditure, then surely Canterbury is entitled to expect prompt fulfilment of. promises. There has been more than one recent instance of pique on tho part of Departmental officials at tho activities of the League in vigorously pushing the- interests of Canterbury and the South Island. This has created a doubt in the minds of members as to what extent Departmental inertia is responsible for the delays in putting in hand tho urgently needed improvements.

At last meeting of tho executive the organiser brought down a report dealing with these matters, which, at his request, -was taken into committee. The executive' unanimously decided that publicity should be given to samo in order that the Canterbury people njay be cognisant of the position. As a League we know no political party. On public matters our dealings are bound to be with the Cabinet in power—whether it be Reform, Liberal or Labour. It is the aim of tho League to judge all matters on their merits, to ask for nothing that is not reasonable, but to vigorously push for satisfaction of Canterbury's just claims. Where the Government has done progressive work in the province, this League lias wholeheartedly congratulated them. Where unconscionable delays are taking place in effecting long promised. improvements vital to the progress of Canterbury, this League must, and will, make emphatic protest. Should it fail to do so, its usefulness will have ended. In this policy we think we are fairlv entitled to the whole-hearted Bupport of "The Press." —Yours, etc., J. H. BLACK WELL, President, Canterbury Progress League. £We refer to this letter in our leader columns. —HI. "The Press."]