PROGRESS LEAGUES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1928, Page 1

PROGRESS LEAGUES

WESTPORT CONFERENCE

By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright

WESTPORT, -May 2

The conference of South Island Progress Leagues was held in W estport today, Mr P. G. Strothers (President of Westport Progress League) presiding. The visiting delegates were officially welcomed by the Mayor, Mr J. H. Harkness.

Mr Steel (Dunedin) replied on the visitors’ behalf.

Thirty-five remits were considered, most of them being carried. A lew were withdrawn, while some others were lost.

Amongst the remits carried were the ones urging the speedy completion of the railways southward from Nelson and Marlborough; the construction of reading to provide better access to Maruia Springs, the curative properties of which are not yet generally known, owing to the isolation of the Springs; also asking the Government to declare a scenic reserve of the area from the Springs through Cannibal Gorge to the Lewis Saddle. Other remits were adopting urging better publicity of a railway from east to west via the Lewis Saddle ; the more speedy completion of the Buller Gorge Railway; the necessity of the bridging of the main highways on the West Coast so as to bring the district into line with others for motor traffic; asking the Government to assist in having the pre-war South Island coastal and Australian shipping services reinstated; to have the State’s policy standardised as regards the construction of main highways; a special loan to bo raised for the purpose; the allocation of the petrol tax on the basis of the amount of petrol used in each island; the adopting of a vigorous afforestation policy to combat the seasonal unemployment; asking the Government to consider apparent studied neglect of the South Island, especially in regard to distinguished visitors; urging the Government to give more attention to Westport harbour as a. national port, so as to allou the coal and other natural products of the Buller to be more fully utilised ; asking the Government to have the Westport-G reymouth coastal road speedily completed. To-night the delegates are the guests of the local League at dinner, and tomorrow they will he taken lor motor trips to outstanding places in the district.

The next conference will be held at Blenheim, which heat Nelson for the honour 011 the toss ol a coin.