Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1920. PROGRESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1920. PROGRESS.

Progress is a pleasing as it is a substantial sounding word. It is what we are all looking for, whether individually or nationally. No person or country wishes to stay in the one rut, but there is the desire for advancement, to move forward, open up and expand. In this country just now progress leagues are being formed in most of the provinces to seeure district improvement. Indeed in some eases leagues have ibeen well established for some time past and they are doing excellent work. Other places aTe just coming into line, and Wellington province is a notable example of this. Here in Westland it has been preached often enough that to make good headway it is necessary to agifate and keep bn agitating with regard to public wants. In the past we have had our local leagues, railway and otherwise, and in a small way the people have done their best to make themselves heard and their wants understood. But we have been crying from afar off, and lacke-dflforce and perhaps unity at times. Now has come to the people an opportunity too good to miss, The Canterbury Progress League—an influential organisation with 107 local bodies and associations behind it, and a solid plialanyx of parliamentarians—has extended the right hand of fellowship, and has not 'waited to he asked for help, hut has preferred it. The people are showing a wise disposition towards .taking up the offer. On Tuesday night it was resolved to set about forming a Westland branch ,of the Progress League, and in a very short time, the preliminaries for this ■ important step should he concluded. The movement will have the support of this paper, but wlvat is specially required Is the help of the people themselves. Far too much is left to the willing few. If would be very appropriate now to see a new. spij'if displayed and a fresh team of directors coming forward to work out the destiny of the 1-oeal brunch. Tile old workers have done well, but fyesli blood could no doubt do hotter. The scope of the Progress League leaves room for active work in all directions, and the local business ability and enterprise should produce men enough to give us a fresh hardworking and thoroughly enthusiastic team. Further, the personnel of the local League should not be confined to the town alone. It will be the district which will receive the most direct benefit from' the operations of the League and country residents should liecotne interested from the outset. The League of course would not run counter to the Chamber of Commerce. That body can continue its good work as heretofore awl could ibe assisted at times by the Progress League. In other centres the two bodies flourish side by side, and there might he even a spirit of emulation between them—it would he all for the betterment of the district and the ultimate goal it is sought to attain, namely, progress.