PROGRESS LEAGUE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1927, Page 4

PROGRESS LEAGUE CONFERENCE

SOME. OF THE REMITS. CHRISTHURCH, Julio 22. BACK FREIGHT. Dr Teichclmann (Westland) moved: •‘That the time lias arrived when, in the interests of adding to Die revenue of the railways, the Department should consider favourably the encouragement of additional goods traffic oil the Midland line hy cheaper hack freights when transferring empty trucks from east to west. ’ The remit was seconded hy Air J. AA . Morris (AA’csi land). Mi P. R. Cliinie said that the proposal had been before the Chamber of Commerce for some years and had mot with practically unanimous endorsement. It only asked for something that was already being done in other parts of the Dominion. Afr D. M. Robertson (Grey) opposed the remit and stated that the C!levmouth Chamber of Commerce was practically unanimously against cheaper hack-loading rates from Canterbury. Ho suggested that there should he further inquiry before the remit "as adopted. as it would practically result in giving free trade to the ( hrist- ■ church merchants against the Grey- | mouth merchants. ! ()i- Tviclielinann agreed that in a number ot small matters the West ! Coast inerclnint.s would be affected, but ' be looked at it from the larger point of | view. There were many tilings that could be brought hy rail Loin Clirisl--1 church whiih were now brought by steamer from Wellington, j The remit was adopted. Air Robertsoil dissenting. I WF.-ST COAST ROADS. I Dr Teichclmann moved: “Thai the Canterbury-West Coast road, via BealI ey. he maintained in good order for ! vehicle traffic as a necessary alterna- ; j vo m ca.-e of any railway break- ' down or blockage,” I hat to taeilitate the development of South AN tsi land. ' and ill view of the railway terminating , at Ross .it is essential that the Alain j South road to Bruce Bay he widened and improved generally tor hotter transport facilities for the settlers residing in the far south.” 'l'he remit was secondisl hy .Mr S. B. .Macdonald (Otago) and carried. I From AVestland —“That the Haa.st j Bass track connecting Otago and south Westland lie improved and suiti ab'c lmts established at convenient : slaws.” - Agreed to. THE DULLER RAILWAY, i Air 1 Turk ness then moved the adopI tion of the Butler remit urging the ' speedy completion of the liu" trim | AA’estport to Inangahua. In speaking ' to the motion he emphasised the im- ; portative ol the line irom the national | point of eview. There was no ques- ! tion about the line paying. Tt would ' cut right through slate fields, estimntI ed hy geologists to contain -'Ki.000.1.00 tons of slate. It also tapped n coal- ' hold in which there was 70,000,090 tons ! cf coal, and passed through a groat j timber, area. There were a few men • working there now, hut lie did not call it work on railways. They wanted hundreds of men to he employed. Air Moffat seconded the motion. Mr Macdonald supported the motion and remarked that the completion of tho line would Help them to regain some of the South Island trade tha-t I had been lost. | Afr Coulter also supported the nm- . tion. which was carried unanimously, j A QUESTION OF FINANCE. Mr Alofl’a.t moved: “That, the Government he requested to borrow sufficient money to complete the NelsonAA’e.st Coast railway, the section between AA’c.stport and Inniigahun. and connect the rail heads between AVharnliui and Parnassus oil the cast coast, and to put these works in hand as soon as possible.” The motion was seended hy Air Gould. Messrs Churchward and Cliinie expressed the opinion that the present was an inopportune time for pressing the matter. ATr Cli'tnie suggested that instead of passing the motion they should discuss the matter with the members of Parliament. AH Afoffa.t- agreed to withdraw tho motion. In regard to the Nelson remit, that (lie railway from Kawatiri to Jnangahtiit he completed as- soon a.s possible, Art' Afoffatt amended it as follows: “That in the interests of national economy the railway from Glenhopc to Alurchisoii he completed as soon as pssi'ble. and that tho survey for the remainder of the line south of Murchison he put in hand at the earliest possible moment.'’

FORESTRY. The following remit dealing with forestry questions was carried: From Grey:—“That, in view of the great importance and value of the timber industry and the depression now existing owing to the competition of foreign timbers, the Government and Parliament l>e urged to provide, during the coming session, adequate protect in through the tariff against the indiserininate importatios of softwoods from overseas. Further, that in adjusting the tariff the maximum protection he provided for the local product, which to the extent of Dll per cent, consists of the less valuable grades. of rimu, such grades being those that, are most severely affected hv the competition of imported Oregon, hemlock and wall-board. NEXT CONFERENCE. ■An invitation from the Bailor Progress League that the next conference ho held at Westport, was accepted.