CANTERBURY PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1924, Page 1

CANTERBURY PROGRESS LEAGUE.

WESTLAND COMMITTEE. annual meeting. MONDAY, May 19th. The annual meeting was held nt the County Chambers at 7.45 p.m. Present —Dr. Teichehnann (President), Messrs ,T. i. Mueiarlane. W. Jeffries. W. E. Richards, R. Wild, A. 0. Pilkington, T. W. Bruce. C. S. Dnlgliesh, T. W. Duff. W. J). Maekay, W. P. Payne, A. Snell and J. W. Morris (Secretary)! Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Evans, Mclntosh and But. lor. The minutes of the last amnia] meet, iug were read nnd confirmed.

ANNUAL REPORT. 'lhe Executive has pleasure in prelenting its fourth annual report, tugether with Statement of Accounts for the year ended (list. March. 1921. .Monthly meetings have been held and members have been regular in attendance and attentive to their dutiesand consideration of matters bionglir forward for discussion, which matters have been fully reported in the papers and are. here referred to again briefly. As in past years the sympathetic support and co-operation of the Canterbury Progress League, has been extended and much valued assistance and advice has been received, members of tile parent League being over desirous of cementing the cordial relations existing between the two provinces, and the Committee desires to exp res,; its appreciation of the sendees so freely granted. Finance:—The League has been bumpered during the year by lack of finance and has been compelled in several dire,-- j tinii* in eurt-nil its activities, owing to n shortage of funds. | The accompanying Statement of Accounts shows a balance of cash in linin' of £lO Us -Id. Expenses in connection with the Luncheon in December are being met by separate subscription. General:—The completion of the Arthur’s Pass Tunnel and the inaiigur-.- I lion in August hist of through railwm I traffic hoi ween the West Coast and I

Canterbury marked the beginning of : I new era of prosperity in Westland I and fulfils one of the objects for whirl I the League was constituted, the speed I ing up of completion of the Tunnel. I whieii. together with Loral Bodies am' I ihe Longue in Christchurch the Com I niitieo persistently advocated with in I

i small measure of success. Attendant on the inauguration o' - i lie through, service various questions of railway policy cropped up which seriously affected interests in botli Westland and Canterbury, and in co-opera, lion with other bodies the matters were taken up with tlie Department and in most cases were remedied tn the satisfaction of those concerned. At the official opening of the Tunnel most members journeyed to Otira and Arthur's Pass and the Committee was represented by the Secretary at the I banquet to celebrate tile Union of East and West temlcied by the Canterbury I'ingress League in Christchurch on the evening of the opening. In October biM Messrs McAlpine. Climie, I Henderson and others visited the Const with it l ieu- to discussing trade eondi- I Cions and relations with Canteihiirv. I find at* a public- meeting convened by I tiie Mayor placed their views before the public and sought, an expression ol views of business men in these parts. I Similarly, in January, Hokitika was I visited by a delegation of business men I from Wellington, headed by Mr John Myers. President of the Wellington I Chamber of Commerce, with whom was I associated Air Leigh Hunt. President of the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, who wisfie.l to investigate conditions of trade. These visits must have the effect of awakening local interests to a sense of their importance and the consequent interchange of opinions must lie beneficial both to visitors and those visited.

Publicity. Though hampered by lack of. funds, the Comniillee has at all limes urged the claims of Westland nnd heartily .supported tile proposal that a Citizen*’ Committee should undertake the management of an Exhibition to celebrate the opening of the Tunnel and the diamond jubilee of Westland. Great, credit is due lo the manag-menl who carried the undertaking through to so successful an issue and the benefits which will result troin the publicity- gained from the crowds of visitors- from all parts of New Zealand will he felt for years to come nnd will he reflected in closer settlement and more all round prosperity.

In f,-opera t ion with (tiler -lAz-iil Rudies the Commit lee undertook to tender to visiting officials and others at the opening of the Exhibition a luncheon to lolebrnte the n] cuing of the Arthur’s Pass Tunnel and the Union of the Provinces of Westland and »n----terhuiy. The luncheon was attended |,v sir is Bell amt . ther Cabinet Ministers. Mr .las. O’Brien M.U.. and vi-itiug members of Parliament anil many other officials and visitors to the Exhibition, who all expressed their pleasure and surprise tit the resources of, the district. ’ihe Canterbury Progress League through its Publicity Fund, undertook the printing of 1000 -Maps of Hie South Westland Glacier region towards the i (ist of which the Committee lias contributed fifteen pounds ten shillings the Maps were ;ompilcd by Dr. leichclmann to whom the thanks of the CVminiiltee ate due for tlie amount of time

and labour he spent in their preparation. In January lest, Air Collins ol the Department of Industries and C’omnierie, made a trip through South Westland to Otago, and with his permission the Committee published in pamphlet form an account of his experiences and his opinions of the possibilities of South AYestland. Copies of this pamphlet weto distributed through various Local Bodies md Chambers of Commerce and a few copies are still available from the Secretary. A booklet descriptive of Westland is now in the hands of the publishers and will he available for general distribution shortIv. The League has persistently advocated the opening of a branch of the Government Tourist Service and it is pleasing to record that the Department has at last recognised the existence of the West Coast nnd has opened

a Tourist Bureau. Educational. —In .Tune last the second Winter School for Fanners was held in Hokitika but lack of sustained interest by the farming community led the League reluctantly to abandon the AA inter School this year. It is hoped that at a later date renewed interest by those who benefit by the lectures will lead to a revival of the school. The school tin's year will be held in Greymouth under the auspices of the Farm-

ors’ Unions. Other matters of interest nave l>een discussed during the vein- arid whore neeositary rtdress for grievances has boon sought Ond obtained. Tim wi-

vices of the League are often to all on matters noii-pOlitical and it is hop-; 1 ed that L-oc-al Bodies and others will roc-ogni.se the good work done by tlio Committee and express their appreciation by a practical recognition of the services rendered that the operations of tlio Committee may not be seriously handicapped by lack of funds. In conclusion tho Committee desires to record its thanks to Air Board who represented it on the Council of the i League in Christchurch, to tlio Westland County Council for the free use of the County Chambers and to tho Press for tlio liberal assistance given on all occasion's.'

In moving the reception and adoption of the Report arid Balance Sheet, the President made further reference to tho various activities of the Leagno ! and stressed the need for continued interest and support. Air Jeffries, in supporting tho President’s remarks, referred to the early constitution of the I-cnguo and considered that in the coining year tlieve would bo many calls on the League for consideration and discussion of , matters of supi'emc importance, particularly with reference to railway management. lie specially referred to the supf-brl given the Exhibition Cominiltco by the League and in connection with the AY inter School, expressed regret that it was not possible this year to c-arry on as in the past two years. New membership was required and he urged an effort to increase the mombershio materially in tho coming vear.

Afr Bruce suggested that the League express its hearty appreciation of the manner in which the Exhibition was managed and carried through so successfully. He considered the whole project a lingo sueee.ss and that tlio results accruing would be felt for years tn come. Air. Duff endorsed the remarks of previous sneakers and congratulated tlio Executive on the year’s work'. Air Richards then seconded tho adoption of the Report and Balance Sheet which on being put to tiie meeting was carried. The President then moved a vote of appreciation of the services rendered by the League in Christchurch which being seconded was carried unanimously. A bonus of five guineas was voted to the Secretary for services dining the past three years. Messrs A. Snell and C. S. Neville were elected members of the Branch. F.LECTTON OF OFFICERS. On the motion of Alt- Jeffries, seconded by ATr AYild. Air T. AY. Bruce was elected President, for the ensuing

l)r. Teichelmanu was elected A’icePresident. The following were appointed to the Executive Committee:—Messrs Jeffries, Duff. Dalgliesh, AA'ihl. Mclntosh, Butler, Mncfnrlune Pilkington, Payne, Alacka.v. Evans, Snell, with power to add to the number. Afr Alorris was reappointed Secretary and Treasurer. It was resolved to ask Atr A. G. Henderson to represent the Branch on the Council of the League in Christchurch. Alessis Bruce and .Maekay were appointed a. sub-committee to report on various railway matters, particularly with reference to a turntable and rearrangement of time-table, at the next Committee meeting. The meeting night was fixed for the third Afonday of the month. The meeting closed at 9 p.m. with a vote of thanks to the chair.