PROGRESS DELEGATION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1922, Page 2

PROGRESS DELEGATION

CONFERENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH. i SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. ! I CHRISTCHURCH, August 10. A conference of members of the Executive of Canterbury Progress League members of the Westland committee of Executive and Greymouth and Reefton delegates and representatives Of Boiler Progress Tleague, was held in the City C lined Chambers last eveping. The President of the League (Mr W. K. MoAlpine) was in the chair. The Chairman extended a welcome to the delegates and the visitors l-epliod following upon a discussion in which members expressed appreciation of the progress made towards- completion of the Otira tunnel.

Mr D. J. Evans moved a resolution to the effect that the meeting urge the most speedy opening possible of Otira Tunne'i and the the Organiser be instructed to prepare a form of celebration to mark the opening, including the ‘preparation of a souvenir booklet, giving a historical record of the coming reunion of Canterbury and Westland. Mr Marriner seconded tlie motion, which was supported by Hon. J. Gnmmond.

Hon. H. Ti. Michel said be did not think they should wait for" the completion of the tunnel before they brought passengers through. There was no doubt it would be months yet before the tunnel was open for traffic, but lie saw no reason why a large number of passengers should not he taken through in the next three months. He had no doubt that passenger traffic would increase twenty fold when the line was completed. Government had given permission for perishable produce to lie conveyed through the tunnel on one day in the week and he considered quite reasonable to ask that a few passenger carriages should be hooked on to those cargo trains.

Mr A. F. Wright said, he had been interested in Mr Michel's suggestion regarding the conveyance of passenger traffic. The drift of population was towards the North Island, but if they could persuade their people to spend their holidays oil the Coast there rtould not he a lack of knowledge as to the potentialities of the Coast. A majority of the people on this side had no true conception of the great scenic beauties of South Westland.

Mr A. G. Henderson said that if passenger traffic increased to -12,500 pei year the people of Greymouth would have to prepare accommodation. At present he was confident that Greymouth people did not realise what was coming to them. Regwding the transport of passengers through the tunnel, Mr Henderson said they had got a valuable concession in regard to the conveyance of perishable produce, and they did not want to delay the work. Mr Climie said that while they were waiting for the electric power station to be tested they might ask for a- temporary passenger service to be put on. As to tlie name of the tunnel, he suggested that they should adopt once and for all, the name of Arthur’s Pass Tunnel, in honour of Arthur Dobson, who discovered the pass.

line motion was carried. Mi- w. j. Bntler moved a resolution approving of the principle that the League pledge itself to help to establish the fullest trade relations between West and East Coasts. MV J. Steer, in seconding the motion Haul there was ample room on the Coast for our railway and harbour. The Poit of Grey mouth must he kept open if it were only for North Island trade. | The motion was carried. Mr W. Jeffries moved that the Lea-

ffiie resolves to take an earnest inteiest in the proposed Diamond Jubilee -of the West Coast, contemplated for 1924, and suggested that the Executive appoint a snlvcommittee to confer with the Westland Committee with a view to furthering the project, and in that connection requests the executive, if possible to place the services of the Organiser at the disposal of Westland Committee on conditions to be arrang,hl. The mover said it was with the object to combat the drift of population towards the north, and encourage young people to settle on the Coast. Mr T. W. Duff seconded the motion. Hon. H. L. Michel said that he was confident that the proposal would he a great success and would do much towards improving commercial relations between the East and West. Messrs Henderson, Steer and other delegates supported the resolution which was adopted. Mr Wright moved: —“That the meeting is of opinion the time lias arrived when direct telephonic communication between Canterbury and West Coast should be instituted, and that immediate representations he made in this respect to the deparment.” Mr Evans seconded the resolution and said it was pleasing to note that the Government had anticipated their wishes to a certain extent, in that they were preparing to reorganise the ser-

vice. Other members expressed sympathy with the request and the resolution was carried. Mr J. Steer moved that this meeting of Canterbury, Hokitika, Greymouth Reefton’ and Westport representatives support and endorse the efforts of Nel. son delegates in the endeavour to fur--1 her the completion of the Nelson-Reef-ton railway. Mr Steer said a deputation from Nelson was meeting the Minister in Wellington. He thought it would strengthen the hands of memIrers if a telegram were sent forward by the League. The motion was slightly amended and carried Other matters affecting North Westi land were dealt with and the meeting closed with votes of thanks to Canter- ] burg Progress League and the Chairman’. j Hon. H. L. Michel and Mr Butler ! are returning to the Coast to-day. The J remainder of the party return on Sat- | urday. This morning the County Represents- ■ fives are inspecting .road machinery | in operation in Heathcote County.