Westland Branch Canterbury Progress League.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1921, Page 4

Westland Branch Canterbury Progress League.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6th

The annual meeting of the branch was held in the Town Hall at 7.40 p.m. Present: —Messrs R. Wild (Chairman), A .11. Pillrington (lion, sec.) and some fifteen members.

The minutes of the last annual meetj n .,- were read and confirmed. ANNUAL REPORT.

This Branch of the Canterbury Progress League was formed as the result if a visit here in April 1020 by Mr P. if. Climie, the General Organiser of the League in Canterbury; who addressed' a Public Meeting in the Town Hall, Hokitika, on April 4th. of that year, and who after outlining the objects and aims of his organisation, warmly r< commended the formation ol a Branch in Westland, and thereby unite East and West for mutual help. \ provisional Committe was accordingly set up, and at a further Public meeting on the 30th. July last the Local Bran/4i was duly constituted. Since tlmn it has received warm and ready sympathy and assistance from the parent body. The objects of the League are wide enough to embrace all matters which may appear in any manner to promote the betterment and progress of Westland. whether in respect of domestic or nnlilie affairs. No subject is either too great or too small for its consideration. \ll such have received and will continue to receive attention, and if thought worthy and within its scone will be supported in every way possible. The advantage of being so intimately linked as a Committee of the Parent Body, and not a distinct organisation of ourselves must be patent to all. We

are consequently not a small voice clam

oiiring by ourselves but if need be w can appeal in no uncertain mailin' to our big brothers across “the hill' who have never wavered throughoii the year just concluded with their practical interest and influence.

The League is so organised that it can when occasion requires, rely upon the combined of twelve or thirteen members of Parliament, representing the two Provinces, who compose its Parliamentary Committee, in matters where representation requires to be made to the Government or Official Departments. The affairs of the League are controlled by a council and a general committee. This branch is entitled to representation on such Council, which duty has boon ably fulfilled by Air C. M. Malfroy. a one time resident of Hokitika. who is further honoured by being elected a Member of their Executive Committee also. Their various branches of energy are directed by subcommittees, such as that of agriculture, commerce and industries etc. It. must he pointed out that the League prefers where possible, to exercise its energies when required by representation to or pressure upon the particular body organisation or responsible

official immediaftoly concerned with the matter in hand. By this method of uggestion and prompting much work is done bv the League which is not al-

wi vs apparent. The results are there nevertheless. Membership is not confined to individuals. The constitution provides that Local Bodies. Boards. As'cialions. Unions, Clubs, and all such ■an ea<'h have membership as a scpcaL i utiiv. The Canterbury League at pi". ■ cut has as members, II Borough Oouni < iis, 21 County Councils. 13 Road Boards, I Town Boards, besides mi menus other bodies such as Harbour. Tramway, Education, Domain. Drainage, River and High School Boards to the number of twelcve, and Agricultural, Industrial. Employees, A'tomoliile. Acclimatisation, A. and P.. Rowing, Football, Cricket. Beekeepers. Associations and Industrial Unions numbering 12. This Branch includes in its Memberhip the Hokitika and R oss Borough Councils, Westland County Council. Hokitika Harbour Board, several Dairy Companies, Racing Club. Trotting Club Westland Timber Yards and Snwmillers industrial Union, Stuart and Chapman Ltd., Butler Bros. Ltd., Hokitika Savings Bank, and some Sixty individual Members. Following almost immediately upon ils inception it was railed upon to pilot throughout the District a party if visiting delegates representing t parent body. These genetlemen unci nditedly proved their genuinely !iv interest in our province bein ' • and anxious to visit any point which your Committee thought to suggest as of interest and instruction. Accordingly they wore shown around the ArnImra, Kokatahi and Koternngi Districts and in turn each of flic farming and dairying centres South as far ns Waiho. At each centre they met local residents and discussed matters of importance. Such a visit must of necessity have been mutually instructive and odueut ional. The Executive Committee meets on the third Tuesday of each month in the County Council chambers, and at the outset mapped out certain wcirlcs in their order of importance ever to he kept in view. A matter of primal concern is the pushing to completion of the Otira Tunnel. This work of Dominion import has been kept in the forefront. Tt is due in no small measure to the constant energy of the League, no doubt most readily responded to by the Hon. the Minister in Charge, that the Tunnel has reached its present stage. We c an confidently expect to be able at no distant date, to travel the whole journey to Christchurch by rail. Such a consumation will in true be an epoch marking event in Westland’s history.

The local committee has throughout Hie year given its earnest attention to tlf question of the bridging of the So [thorn Rivers. This is a work next in importance to that of the Tunnel, ami the League has placed it so. Some phase of il has come up at every meeting and if is pleasing to reeotd that there too results are n»■ ra

Tn this connection it, is worthy of mention that the Committee have * committed themselves to a contribution tn- • :ir(L t'm cost of temporary works connected with the bridge over the Little Bh-imatiui River in order to permit of ’let"" Gaffe for the ensuing Tourist Season. As indicative of the varied subjects brought to the Committee’s attention from time to time may he mentioned Southern Mail Service, Landing facili-

lies at Bruce Bay, Country Telephone i iharges, Local Mail Service, District Nurse and Hospital at Waiho, Aerial service and the suitability of a local nnding ground, Railway siding Accomnodation for timber at Hokitika, Awa-mna-Kumara Road, Christchurch Road. ?onstitution of Greymouth Harbour District, Otira passenger service, St tv; , service to Southern ports, Kanieri Lake j Road’, Statutory weekly half-holiday Hdkitika Railway .Bridge, Kanieri Bridge. Labour for Public AVorks, Establishment, of a School of Forestry etc. The Committee have very earnestly discussed and are still pursuing subjects of import to the Fanning and Dajry Community. On 16th. April last a Public Aleetiug was convened wlicrent the initiation of Farming Institution's was submitted. This meeting was me very largely attended, but much e hoped for as Die result of the ideas then expounded. On the subject of Farmers Clubs or Bureaux, Cow Testing Associations, Boys Farm Clubs, Revival of the loval Agricultural Show etc. correspondence has passed with the rficiiltuiral Committee of the League in Canterbury and further progress is expected in the direction of visits from Experts and tiro holding of local Farm Schools for the benefit of Farmers and their sons. The AVestland Agricultural and Pastoral Association is already considering the question of the annual show. All these matters are receiving the hearty and valued assistance of the local Government Fields Instructor and the Agricultural Instructor of the Education Department. Effort is being made to continue the series of Free Public Lectures inaugurated by those given on botany by src’i u gifted scientist as Dr Holloway, the appreciation of which lias encouraged the Committee in this direction. A 1 though Dr Little of Blackball has, been compelled owing to want of time, to •Joelino our invitation to favour us with a Geological Lecture, we still hope to hear him. Meanwhile we are only awaiting the consent of the Department to permit of Air Bush by Cowing, Assistant Engineer at Otira giving his very interest Lecture on ‘‘The Story of the Otira Tunnel.'’ The recent visit, to the District ; of the Right Honourable the Preinter arid of the Hon. the Minister of Alines were occasions which the Committee availed themselves of and took their share in siiporting matters of local importance submitted to each of those gentlemen. The question of finance is one which has required serious consideration. While the Committee had at the outset an unusual call in the matter m conveying the League Delegates to the several districts it is confident that this outlay was well worth while. Such an exenditnre is not likely to recur, but the Committee’s scope is undoubtedly hampered by lack of funds, which in indicates a lack of interest on the part of the community as a whole in the efforts of the Progress Longue on its behalf. If all were to realise their duty in this respect the effort, we arc confident, would be well repaid. At present it remains to the energetic few. The Committee would like to do something in advertising and making more widely known the scenic and other attractions of AVestland, There are many other directions in which it might exert its energies and influence. Tt lias still some unpaid liabilities, as will Ik* seen from the Financial Statement. A very ready response was made to the appeal for funds, and it is hoped the record of the first year’s work will induce a renewal in greater measure of that financial support so much need- ! ed. AVhat is more important is that il will awaken those who have neglected hitherto to help. The Central Committee. while itself appealing for vet wider support, has been good enough to forego for this year the levy w 1 : it is entitled to make on us in respect of certain membership. The annual subscription for individuals is of-. At the last Meeting it was resolved that this he increased to 10/- which after all is not a great sum if it he remembered that it may result in much greater benefit per head to the community. An urgent appeal is made for keener and more wide spread interest in the work and effort of the League. A reminder is given that each third meeting is a general one which every member is entitled to attend and join in the discussions. Tn conclusion the Committee desire to record its thanks to the AVestland County Council for free use of its Council Chambers and to the Hokitika Borough Council for free use of the Town Hall. The TVess is tendered very speci. ‘hanks for the liberal and invaluable assistance given on every opportunity. The Chairman suggested that an addition lie made expressive of the services rendered the League by the. Ministers and tFo member for the district. This was agreed to and the report received.

Tho balance sheet showed receipts, individual subscriptions £l9 19s 6d; from local bodies £77 12s 0d. a A total of £97 11s Od. The payments amounted to £9/1 4s Od leaving a credit balance of £2 7s 6d with liabilities of £42 12s 9d. Received. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. Tlte following officers were elected for the ensuing year. Chairman.—Mr AV. Jeffries. Mr Jeffries thanked members for the honor conferred in appointing him as Chairman. Ho would do his best in the interests of tho League and the district. Vice-Chairman—Mr "Wild. Executive Committee.—Messrs AV. J. Butler, 1). J. Evans, J. Ritchie, T. AV. Bruce, R. F. Perham, Orr, G. A. j Perry, .J. J. Breeze, 3’. Carley and AV. | Logue. I Secretary and Treasurer.—Mr J. AV. Morris. : A hearty vot« of thanks was accord- J ed Mr A. G. Pilkington for his ser- j vices ns secretary arid treasurer during the past year. Mr AA 7 . Jeffries said there was a big ; field of work for the League for tlte coining year, and if members joined j heartily in their best efforts for the advancement and bettering of the dis- j tiii't. They should have ns successful a , year as the past one. ! PAPERS READ. Papers were read by Mr S. F. Orr on

“The Alining Industry;” by Mr D. J. Evans on “Take Kanieri”; by Afr AV. TT. Chinn on “Flax Industry”; by Air AA T . Jeffries on “The Future of AYestland, arid Agricultural and Pastoral Possibilities”; by Air John Adurdoelt. (Ross) on “Ree Culture.”

Hearty votes of thanks were passed to each contributor of the several pap-

's which were of a most interesting s at lire. 1 At tho conclusion of the article on 5 akc Kanieri on the motion of Air 1 filcl, a vote of appreciation was pass- 1 d to the AAMstland Acclimatisation So- , iety for the very reasonable charges iad© by them for motor launch exitrsions across the lake. Tn connection with Lake Kanieri a ne view of the popular resort was on xhibition, the work of Mr Peart, who as secured a very line photo from a lcw viewpoint. In tho eourso of a discussion that folowod Air Orr’s paper Hon H. L. Aliclid referred at some length to the posibilities of mining developments and expressed the reasons for the strong ipinion that he held that there was ivory possibility of a large gold find in lie vicinity of the Arahtira. Tt was resolved that tlte papers ho n intcd and circulated and that furthci pipers be invited to be read at the next quarterly meeting to be held in September. On the motion of Messrs Evans and Wild it was resolved that the League nr g o on the Government the claim of Canterbury for the School of Forestry to ho set; up in that district. The meeting rose at 9.50 p.m.