PROGRESS LEAGUE’S YEAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1920, Page 1

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S YEAR.

THE.' POWER OF ORGANISATION

PAST AND FUTURE WORK

(Lyttelton Times.)

A most profitable year has been spent by the Canterbury Progress League in its efforts to focus attention on the things that are vital to the province. The league has become the rallying point for all progressive movements in town and country, whether it be the provision of a Vice-Regal residence or the completion of the Otirn Tunnel. It has had the backing of every local body in the province, and in tbe sense that they are shareholders in the organisation they have received a substantial dividend in tho wav of work done. The league lias moved many big things forward, and brought many minor matters to fruition. Other activities are shaping towards a happy conclusion in the coming year.

Work on the Otira Tunnel, which will give direct railway communication between the East and West Coasts, was greatly accelerated during the year by the timely intervention of tile League. The cement shortage at the tunnel was brought under the notice of the Government, and a definite promise was secured that cement supplies would he maintained. This promise meant a saving of twelve months in the completion of the tunnel, for at the old rate of progress the work would have occupied twenty months, whereas-it is liow expected to. be finished in eight months. The tunnel inis been in the forefront of the league’s activities, and no opportunity has been lost for placing, its importune before the whole ebnihmnitv The duplication of the Lake Coleridge power plant lias been definitely promised as a result of the league's activity, and a grant of £750,000 lias been made carry the work liito effect. This extension of the power plant will bring electricity within the reach of the whole province and the league has taken up an active interest in the formation of Power Boards throughout Canterbury for tbe distribution ,of electricity. Banks Peninsula formed the first Power Board in the Dominion, and the League, which helped with lectures, information and advice, views with' satisfaction tlije magnificent *wprk of the Peninsula promoters. This work has been favourably 'commented ion by the Minister of Public Works as art example for the rest of the Dominion, and the league hopes to educate other parts of the province up to the'Peninsula standard. The Springs-Ellesmere Power Board has materialised during tho year, and a hoard covering the whole of the Ashburton province is under way. The extreme shortage ef electrical power .so far has made it rather profitless to push on vigorously with this part of the league’s activity but as plant becomes available the advantages of electricity in the home and on the farm will be placed more prominently in the programme.

Port communication was one of the questions that the league brought to a head by the adoption of the Hiley scheme of railway improvements at Lyttelton and Christchurch, but finality was reached only after twelve months of hard work. A most successful dequtation followed the matter up quite recently, when the Prime Minister promised, as a direct result of the league’s efforts, to accelerate the work very considerably. The hew Cliristchiidch goods shed is a visible instalment of the scheme, which will he completed as time goes on, but only be the expenditure of a great deal of energy by the people of Canterbury. In connection

kith transport problems the league brought out a report on the Kainpoi Harbour project, and already the harbour district has been enlarged and a new Harbour Board set up. Loan proposals will also be brought before the ratepayers soon. Rural education has been one of the most important questions taken up recently by the League. The difficulties have been foreseen, but with the very influential committee brought together by the league it is hoped to introduce desirable reforms in the present system. Professor Shelley, Professor Condilfle, and Mr, Straehan, headmaster of the Rnngiora High School have, poined the committee, which is one of the most influential ever set up in New Zealand. Opposition to the establishment of a School of Forestry at Canterbury College was immediately countered by the Progress League, which awakened public opinion not only in the province but throughiiit the South Island; and practical support was secured from the Wellington province as well. Nothing definite lias been announced so far regarding the situation of the school, hut the league has reason to feel encouraged at the result of its work, and it is believed that when a decision is given tile people of Canterbury will nut regret the part played by the league. Extensive emergency mail services were organised by the league when railway dislocation was threatened, the intention' being to give ii service similar to that organised during the railway ciit. Tile fact that no dislocation occurred did not lessen the importance of the league’s activity. The close sorting of the North Island nihil, permitting of tlib delivery of letters an hour earlier in Christchurch, whs among the .minor accomplishments of the year, although it is (inly fair to state that the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce materially assisted in obtaining the reform. Direct representation was secured, on tlie North Canterbury Land Purchase Board and the South Island pastoral binds commission. The travelling country library system, wiiioil lias become enormously popular in the remoter districts, has been ii successful branch of the work of the ieiigue, which has ten libraries in operation, and authority .has been given to the league’s organiser to establish ten mote. It is hoped that these libraries will receive subsidies from the Education Department on account of tlieir eduentiohnl value, and the Minister lias already expressed his admiration for the work.

The formation of a Canterbury Members of Parliament Committee was another forward move in which the league gave the lead, and the -committee, which did remarkably good work during tile last session of Parliament; lias been in close harmony wit the league.

Main arterial roads were urged as part of the league’s policy, arid while nothing appeared in the shape of a Hill oii the subject last session, a measure is about to lie,drafted, and will lie submitted to the league and similar organisations throughout New Zealand for perusal. Oii the roads question, the league lias co-operated fully with the Good Roads Association of Auckland. The league’s illustrated booklet oh Canterbury has already given a line advertisement to the proviiiee. it has been widely circulated in Britain, America, Canada arid Australia, as well as iri New Zealand. The booklet lias been placed in shipping offices arid on ocean-going steamers, arid the Tourist Department gave a large order for distribution among its various offices in New Zealand and the High, Commissioner’s office in London. A West Coast edition, as well as a sheet of well-pre-pared maps of Canterbury ,and New Zealand, is about to bo published. West Coast people bad so much rea-

son to thank the league lor its activities that they readily fell in with the organisation by Mr C'limie of similar bodies on the West Coast, and Buller and Grey Leagues have been formed. Westland, however, preferred to join tlie Canterbury League, and the Westland district .has been taken into tbe Canterbury League’s boundaries, with a local committee at Hokitika.