PROGRESS LEAGUES

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 6

PROGRESS LEAGUES

A SOUTH ISLAND CONFERENCE COMMON PLAN TO ADVERTISE SCENIC ATTRACTIONS [Per United Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, September 26. At the conference of South Island Progress Leagues, held here to-day, the advertising of the scenic attractions of the South Island, both in the' North Island and overseas, was discussed on the following resolution, moved by Mr J. S. Dick (Southland)That the conference give consideration to a combined effort by the South Island Progress Leagues towards publicity for the potentialities and attractions of the South Island as a whole.”

Mr D. .1. VVesney, speaking to the remit, said that some uniform system of advertising was needed, especially to attract Australian tourists.

The conference approved of the remit, amending it to include suggestions made by Mr G. G. Stewart, publicity manager of tho Railways Department. The following remit was approved:— -< The conference draws attention to the great possibilities of the Holly ford Valley and surrounding country, which, with the progress of the construction of the Milford Sound road via Lake Te Anau and the Eglinton Valley, is now becoming available for tourists and alpinists. Mountaineering is available close at hand to the road, and the at-

tractions of this locality can scarcely be surpassed anywhere in the world, and must be regarded as an important asset to the future development of New Zealand’s tourist industry.” A remit favouring the construction of the Haast Pass road between North Otago and South Westland was introduced by Mr G. J. Errington (Otago), who pointed out that the road would make possible the development of large and productive districts. He added that consideration should be given to the condition of settlers in remote parts which would be reached by the road. Mr W. B. Steel (Otago) said that the Haast Pass was the natural route between Westland and Otago. It was the lowest pass in tho Alps, and was never blocked by snow. The remit was approved. Emphatic support to a Reefton remit advocating speedy completion of the Lewis Pass road was given by the West Const. Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago delegates. It was argued that work on the road should be undertaken from the west end as well as the east, and that the work warranted provision being made out of public works expenditure and not merely from the unemployment funds.

Mr IV. B. Steel, speaking to a Southland remit urging the Government to support a permanent shipping service between Melbourne and the South Island. discounted the pleas which had been made that ships were not available. Ho referred to the years of service which were given during the war and to tho high cost of travel between Australia and New Zealand.

Mr C. H. CUbborn (Canterbury) qualified the criticisms of tho shipping companies implied by delegates., fie pointed out that the quality of tlio

service, the size, speed, and comfort of tho ships all increased the cost of running the service. The following remit was approved:— ” That, in view of tho importance to the welfare and development of the South Island and the Dominion of a regular passenger shipping service between Melbourne and South Island ports, this conference, representing the South Island Progress Leagues, urges tho Government to take any steps that might be necessary to ensure a permanency of the service which is being inaugurated at an early date by the Union Steam Ship Company in the running of tho Marama.” To this it was added that a condition of any shipping subsidy granted by the Government should be the provision of access to the South Island. UNCOMPLETED RAILWAYS. The loss by mining companies of valuable time when the bars of the West Coast harbours were not navigable was advanced as an argument for the completion of the Westport-Inangahua railway, Mr Patterson said that coal and coal products were going to increase greatly in value in tho future. He suggested that a lack of interest m Canterbury in the provision <•£ harbour facilities was obstructing the development of West Coast industry. The remit, which was brought down by Mr J. C. Brown (Buller) and supported by Mr Patterson, read as follows:—” That in view of the importance of tho Westport-Inangahua scer-on of the railway as a link to connect all tho north-western districts with the remainder of the South Island, the Government be urged to complete with the utmost expedition this work, which has

already been carried to an advanced stage/’ The Nelson delegates objected to the special prominence given to the Wesfc-port-Inangaliua line before other uncompleted South Island lines. They favoured a more general remit. Mr G. J. Errington (Otago) moved as an amendment that the completion of the Westport-Inangahua, InangahuaKawatiri, and South Island Main Trunk Hues should be recommended to the Government.

The remit, as amended, was passed. A remit introduced by Mr Isaac Patterson (Reefton), expressing the opinion that the gold mining industry should be freed from oppressive taxation, and m particular from tlie export duty of 12s (3d an ounce, was approved. It was decided that the next conference should be held at Invercargill, the date to be decided later.