CANTERBURY PROGRESS LEAGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1920, Page 4

CANTERBURY PROGRESS LEAGUE

. CHRISTCHURCH Dec. 3. The Exjecqtiye Committee of the Canterbury Progress League met last night Mr A. G. Henderson (president) being in tf>e chair. . ~ ! Tlie president referred to. the leading matters dealt with Jjy the League since the last meeting. The cement shortage at the <ptira Tunnel was brought under the notice of the Minister, and, if sufficient cement for the works could not lie procured in. New Zealand, it would be imported. The congestion at the railway station continued acute, and some move should be made to induce the Government to make a start with the work of duplicating the tunnel. The railway officials themselves did not expect to get clear of the present congestion until the new year. The organiser reported on his visit to the dtira Tunnel works ap’d the cement shortage on the lines of his published statement. j Air H. J. Marriner said that no tender had yet been let for the construction of a railway bridge at the Arthur’s Pass end of the tunnel. That might cause delay in the future. Mr Henderson paid a tribute to the excellent work put in by Mr Climie, in the matter of the cement shortage, and the tunnel works. The Government as the outcome of Mr Climie’s were taking notice. There was a cargo of 1000 tons of Norwegian cement coming, and more later and the Government might he able to get supplies from that source. Mr W. E. Leadley suggested that the Government should be urged to frame a scheme of cement supply for the tunnel works without infringing on Canterbury’s quota. Mr Climie said the Department contended that the cement required for the tunnel; was taken into consideration

when fixing Canterbury's quota. It might be the Government would import coal to allow the Dominion cement works to produce to their fullest ca-

pacity. The Westland Committee of the League forwarded, for the support of the Canterbury League, remits, asking that Easter Saturday should be gazetted a jstntutory holiday; that the bridging of the Little Wanganui and Waitangi and Waiho, in South Westland should bo carried out without delay; that better accommodation should be provided at the Hokitika railway for the handling of timber; that the .Bruce Bay landing stage be built, also a remit protesting against th 0 multiplicity of Government inspectors. Regarding the proposed Easter Sat-

urday holiday, it was decided to reply that the matter was outside the province of the League. Mr Marriner moved that the Government be urged to let contracts immediately for the construction of the South Westland bridges. The motion was carried.

In the matter of the Hokitika railway station, it was decided to ask the organiser to take the necessary steps to have the urgency of the matter impressed on the Government. Mr Malfroy said the want of railway facilities at Hokitika for handling timber was largely responsible for the difficulty in. securing timber supplies in Canterbury. It was also decided to make representations to the Government regarding the construction of the landing stage at Bruce Bay.