WESTLAND PROGRESS LEAGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1928, Page 4

WESTLAND PROGRESS LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Westland Branch of the Canterbury Progress League was held at the County Chambers at 7.30 last evening. The following were present:—Dr Teichelmanri (President), Messrs J. J. Mclntosh, W. J. Butler, W. Jeffries, D. J, Evans, W, E. Richards, T. W. Duff, A. G. Pilkington, W. Wilson, J. W. Morris. Apologies were made for the absence of Messrs T. W. Bruce and J. C. Macfarlane.

The minutes of the previous annual meeting were confirmed. . ANNUAL REPORT.

The Executive Committee has pleasure in presenting its eighth Annual

Report, together with Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1928. Meetings have been held regularly, land have, been well attended, and have I been fully reported in the press from ■ time to time.

i” During the year, owing to his leaving the district under transfer, Mr XVaw resigned from the Committee. } Finance.—The funds available have .'been applied in the main towards -fneither advertising Westland’s scenic attractions, and to Chi.s’end an appeal for {funds resulted in £7O being raised for (a further 'issue of the Committee’s ’booklet “ A Holiday in Westland,” and | £3O for screen advertising in Christjjcliurcti and Wellington theatres, and lin this connection special thanks are {due to Messrs. Newman Bros, and Grajliam Bros.,'and;the-Westland Acclimiatisation Socitey for generous contri•butions. v \

General.—At ’the Annual Conference of South Island Progress Lenuges bold in Christchurch, in .June of last year, the President, Dr Teichelmann, and the Secretary, Mr Morris, represented ‘the Committee, and were successful in urgipg various claims of general interest for considerations by the South Island members of Parliament Commit, tee. At the recent Conference held in Westport, circumstances prevented direct representation/ but the remits forwarded were presented by the Otago delegates, to whom the sincere thanks of the Committee are due. Due particularly to* the energies of Messrs Evans and Mclntosh, the required number of signatures to the petition for a continuous telephone service was obtained, and the continuous service was inaugurated early in December last, bringing the town of Hokitika and surrounding district in line with progressive centres in other parts. Direct representation of the League on the local committee of the Grey Jubilee Committed was given by the appointment of Dr Teichelmann to that Committee, and opportunity is here taken to congratulate tlio Greymouth District on the success of its jubilee celebrations.

Active support- was accorded to the Canterbury Progress League in its action in pressing the claims of the South Island on tlio Tourist Department, and support was given I to remits along similar lines at the League Conference in Westport. Arrangements arc being made for a series of photographs of various Westland beauty spots to be published in tlie weekly papers, thus giving wide publicity to the many scenic features of Westland. Funds, however,. are required for this project, and the matter is held over, in tlio meantime, but the project is a fine medium for .further widely, advertising tlio resources and attractions of the district to that portion of the public who are never reached by means of pamphlets or screen advertising. At a well-attended* meeting of public bodies to meet Mr Ben Wilson of the Tourist Department, •Dr Teichelmann presided, and stressed the need of further recognition of. the district requirements by the Tourist and Publicity Departments, Mr Wilson' agreeing to bring the matters presented before the Departments concerned. Other matters of local and general interest have been considered, and necessary action taken to give effect to the decisions arrived at. In conclusion, the Committee desires to express its thanks to the Canterbury Progress League for its continued interest in Westland, to Mr Goss, who again lias represented the Committee on the Council of the League, to tlie County Council for the use of its rooms for meetings, and to the press, which has at all times fully reported meetings and assisted to further the aims of the League. —Deceived.

The balance sheet showed receipts £lO4, the bulk of the expenditure being on the publication of illustrated advertising booklets. The credit balance at date was-£l 10s Bd, with liabilities totalling £3s.—Received. A general discussion took place regarding finance, and •; Dr- Teichelmann and the Secretary (Mr J. W. Morris) were asked to make a canvass for,additional members. It was resolved also to appeal to' the Dairy Factories for subscriptions. On the motion of Mr Jeffries seconded by- Mr Dpff it was resolved to ask tlie County Council to contribute a grant of £25, and the Borough Council a grant of £10:; ?, Mr Jeffries referred to the satisfac • tory results and great convenience to the district of the continuous telephone. It was stated .there -was considerable delay .. with regard to - telephonic connections with the North Island and that in consequence the Department was losing revenue. It was resolved to acquaint the Postmaster of the position with a view to the matter being remedied. Tlie report and balance sheet were adopted and the work of the Executive during ,t,he. year appreciated.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ,President,Dr Teichelmann; VicePresident, Mr iJ. J. Mclntosh; representative to the Canterbury Progress League, Mr W. Goss; secretary, Mr J. W. Morris; Executive, Messrs Butler, Pilkington, Evans, Richards, ; Duff, Maefnrlane, , Bruce, Wilson, Jeffries, Mackay, and Dew-. - • .- COMMITTEE MEETING. •The • Committee- met-, subsequently, Dr Teichelmann presiding, vi ■ INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. - . Canterbury Progress League wrote regarding the bridges in South Westland and >tliei meeting expressed satisfaction 'at having the support of the parent body. The'minutes of-the April'and May meetings of the parent League were laid on the. table. - - •. ... Marlborough Progress League for warded a copy of, the May'meeting and j annual:report.—Received with thanks. Mr Jeffries referred to the possibilities of the Tophouse route which was now practically completed. By making the steamer connection with the Tamahirie at Picton it would be possible to accomplish- the journey from Hokitika to Wellington in about 12 hours, once the service was opened up. It.lwas decided to arrange -to visit the Marlborough district, travelling over’the new route when particulars of the journey were available.

11. Peart wrote, from Wellington with regard to pictorial advertising in tlie illustrated press. The matter was left with the President and Secretary to expend up to £5 by way of experiment. . , ' _

J.'The ’- Railway-' DepaHmenty* advised suitable' literature could now 'be'plftced in approved trains for the information

of tourists. It was resolved to send 100 cotiies of “ A Tour Through Westland ”, for disposal in the AucklandWellington strains connecting with the oversea steamers. *■ . .-

Mr Jeffries referred to the. prospective visit of tlie Otago farmers and it was resolved to. co-operate in, any way possible to assist in making tlie visit a success., .

The meeting concluded at 8.40