EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19661, 14 September 1927, Page 15

EXPANSION LEAGUE

AWL MEETING Last night the fifteenth annual meeting of the Otago Expansion League was hold in the Somerset Lounge at the Savoy. The president (Mr S. B. Macdonald) presided, and about thirty members attended. ADOPTION OF ANNUAL REPORT. The Chairman, having delivered his address (which appears in another portion of this issue), extended a welcome to the mayor and to the representatives of other bodies. He then moved the adoption of the annual report and bal-ance-sheet. Mr L. Deans Ritchie seconded the motion, and expressed approval of the utterances oi the chairman concerning the attitude of the Government, which, he said, had its ears pressed' to the ground in order to follow the promptings of the North Island electors to the detriment of those of the South. The speaker also stressed the absolute necessity for action in respect of shipping facilities, a new post office, afforestation, and other matters mentioned by the president in his address.

The Mayor (Mr VV. B. Taverner) congratulated the league on tho conclusion of another year’s work. Tho undoubted spirit that tended to co-ordinate the league, and various local bodies spelt success for tho future. There were many difficulties in these days which bodies twenty or thirty years ago had not to face, and so many activities were now involved that greater attention was needed. Ho had been much struck with the part of the report dealing with afforestation. The work that the City Council had been doing in this connection was an object lesson, and was an example of what could be achieved. The way had been pointed out, and there Was no reason why tho work should not bo further extended. For the last two years there had been 37-I,COO trees planted on 450 acres of ground, and in 1926-27 tho total of planted trees amounted to 398,954 trees on 500 acres. Tho total area planted was about 4,000 acres, chiefly in pinus iusignis. Areas yet available included several thousand acres at Waipori, and about 1,000 acres near Dunedin. The work was tho largest of its kind in New Zealand, and possibly in the whole of Australasia. Jn the near future the area, under trees would probably run from J 2,000 to 15,000 acres, maybe oven 20,000 acres. However, the City Council was exercising care in tho matter, because, in order to take on a big scheme of afforestation, provision which would call for a largo amount of consideration was necessary.

With regard to the new Post Office, Mr Taverner remarked that it was a groat pity that tho work could not bo gone on with, but they all knew that tho Government was up against it financially, and, in a way, it could not be blamed for slowing down. It was a shame to see such a valuable site going to waste. They should keep on fighting for the now building, and combine to put tho propect through. The speaker touched on the fruit canning industry, and ho considered that there was no reason why it should not be developed more fully in a country which was rich in fruit as New Zealand. On account of the cheapness of black labor much had been in South Africa in this industry. The Government experts should go more thoroughly into the matter. In reference to unemployment, tho Mayor said it was difficult to deal with the question on non-political ground. In this country there should be no unemployment; one explanation which we wore compelled to admit was that there were too many men in the world. Some industries were overcrowded. There should be more coordination between town and country. This year the sum of £12,000 had been spout in Dunedin on employment relief, and they would probably have the same troubles to face next year. SCHOOL INSTRUCTION.

Sir R. B. Tennent, Instructor in Agriculture, spoke on the question of the boys’ and girls’ agricultural classes, which, be said, had been initiated by tho Otago Expansion League. This movement bad grown until to-day there wore 2,000 boy and girl members doing excellent work throughout the country. It was intended to take the farmers’ unions into co-operation, and this, with tho continued help of the home science department of the University, tho education would assure a rosy future. Mr G. H. Reece, of the Forestry Department, said that he had been delighted to find how excellent was the work done in tho afforestation areas adjacent to the cityq particularly the plantations on the hills. Apart irom the question of conserving the water supply, the city had a tremendous asset for future use. The Forestry Department was not overburdened with funds, but every penny was spent to the greatest advantage. Mr Reece went on to explain tho methods employed to prosecute the work amongst the farmers and the schools. He explained that the department was now making a big effort to introduce forestry in tho schools, in which respect it had been handicapped in the past. He hoped to introduce a scheme whereby the department could put six lessons through the ‘ School Journal ’ and make them synchronise with the plant-' ing in tho school gardens. 11 it got these lessons through it would ultimately get the assistance of the school teachers. It would ho necessary in the future to establish parent trees for the collection of seeds. A great deal of experimental work had yet to be done. Every man in the service was out to help in every way possible; and if anyone wanted information at any time every attention would be paid to his requirements. The Mayor said that regarding the utilisation of the more inferior woods and particularly the trees which would have to be cut out in thinning, tho matter brought up the question of pulp woods. lie suggested that it introduced a profitable field of research work, and considered that any information on the subject would be of great assistance.

Mr Reece answered that engineers wore now studying the question, flowover, lie did not bold out much hope for tbo Finns iusignis as regards tho use of its wood pulp. More would bo known when an engineer of tho Forestry Department who was now in America, reported on his investigations. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICE lIS.

Tho following office-bearers were elected President, Mr S. B. Macdonald; vice-presidents—Messrs P. R: Snrgood, G. J. Errington, and L. Deans Ritchie; bon. treasurer, Mr H. E. Wilson ; Executive Commit tee—Messrs Chas. Todd, J. luglis Wright, E. Tnmhl.yn, T. K, vSidcy, M.P., James Horn, M.P. C. H. Hayward, R. S. Black, 11. M‘Dowell Smith, R. B. Tennent, W. R. Brugh, V. Jacobs, A. E. AVilson, J. W. Munro. R. T. Stewart. D. Tannock. J. Y. Love, and J. E. Winsloo; Educational Committee—Messrs S. B. Macdonald, E. S. Green, R. B. 'Tennent, Hon. Sir Charles B. Stafliam, B. Tamblyn, and A. D. Edgar; Railways Committee—Messrs G. J. Krrington, R. Conn, T. Anderson. R. Young. J, M‘Lachlan. W. Lmm, A. Smith, G. A. M'Leod. H. P. West, J. Y. Love. W. T. Smellie, P. O. Smellic, G. W. O. Macdonald. SUGGESTED AERIAL MAIL.

Mr It. S. Black referred to the need for an improvement in the mail service. The clay was hero when the aeroplane had been in use all over the world except in New Zealand. Those living in the souht paid large subsidies for the service dealing with overseas mail. Mail landed at Auckland came down by slow methods. Me suggested that an aeropKne service be established between Auckland and Dunedin, or at least Christchurch. Also, there should

bo u service dealing with mail landed at Wellington. Nut only would the time taken for delivery be reduced very much, but it would bo ball the start in the formation of an air defence in this country. In the south thoy took everything lying down, and it was time they kicked. Ho considered that the league should take the matter up. He lolt sure that the question of defence was involved in this matter; some day they might want planes and expert 11ym.6 men and their own stores, and if tins scheme were carried out they would have both postal benefit and defence at their very door. Pic hoped tha t tho league and all members of _ South Island bodies would do something to get these machines. _ t With respect to tho new Post Office, he mentioned the fact that the Public Trust Office had purchased a valuable vacant section, and were now putting up an expensive building on what should have been part of the building on the site of the old Post Office. THE LEAGUE IN SOUTHLAND. Mr D. E. Winsloe, formerly of Southland, and now a member of the Otago executive, stated that he wished to draw attention to the amount of money being drawn from the Otago and Southland districts in the way ot Royalties without a single penny being spent here, it was up to the Government to send some of the money back by way of re-afforestation, or else tho matter would become very serious far as the south was concerned. The Expansion Leagues of Otago and Southland should claim their just _ interests, and should see that fiity-fiify from the forest revenue was spent here. Sooner or later they must take up the protection of tho secondary industries in this country. Since the matter of protective tariffs had been gone into in Australia, the wool industry had gone ahead in leaps and bounds, and reports from Victoria alone indicated that they were working with their looms full, and had to work at time and a-half to keep them going for the next two years, in New Zealand only 33 1-3 per cent, of the looms were going on an eight-hour day. By getting a good deal more labor into their work with protective tariff, a large portion of tho unemployment question could be overcome. Mr J. Taylor, president of the Chamber of Commerce, stated that bo reciprocated tho sentiments expressed regarding the harmony between the two bodies. It was pleasing to note that the chamber always had tho help of the league. Unity was strength, and Dunedin, and Otago generally, could rely on the help of both bodies. Their efforts would be continued until they gob 'their just rights. Tho speaker wished tho league every success in the future.

On the motion of Mr A. H. Allen, a vote of thanks was accorded tho retiring office-bearers, and reference was made to tho splendid work of the .score,iry (Mr W. B. Steele). A vote ol thanks to tho Press was also carried.