PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10272, 6 May 1919, Page 5

PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT

■“ - iMtUPGsED ’ tWFERENCE IN I WELLINGTON. Prior to the war it was the customof the AYeJlington , Central Chamber of • .Commerce-to call, each year a confer- j ence of representatives of the local ■ bodies and chambers of commerce ia ! the. Welling con pxipyince. for, the pur- - pose of discussing important matters, of common interest. Various sub] ec‘a were dealt with from time to. time, ; among them being arterial-roads, hydro-. . electrical • development., railways, closer . Sdttl'ehicht' of rural districts, Milage 'Settlement on towu-plauuing lines, ferejilry and water tax. „ ' > Xlias' year the Central Chamber pro-;, poses to revive discussions on matters . bf ’ ’moment, and it has circular-sed . other chambers and local bodies; iuvit-; ing them to meet in Wellington towards the end of next mouth. The circular states: —“My council feels that. the principle of immediate acuioii to; improve the transport facilities of ’.ho province is generally accepted. .The ■largo area of country lands in the North 1 Mastertou portion of the province, requires opening up 1 to promote .closer, settlement. The improvement of -railway and road communication between Wellington city and country- districts is .an "urgent necessity. -Both these projects will, doubtless, meet with your endorsement. Cciatinuous [representations are being.made to urge- on'the Government various schemes towards this end, but the diverse nature of many of them and the want of any common policy hinders any _ definite progress being made even with; such pressing and important works. The Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme has been determined on, and the preTinifnary works will he put in hand by the Government. It, is expected by the Minister ■ for Public Monks that ; local 1 bodies, chambers of commerce, , farmers’ unions, industrial associations, < hydro-electric power leagues, and all i other bodies concerned will organise . for the pur post- of assisting in tho scheme of reticulation of tho power available, that the Public "Works Do- - partment may ascertain the - probable ; demand and arrange accordingly. Tho i proposed conference should ho able to materinllv assist the Minister for Pub- j lie Works in this direction. It is thought, therefore, that tho suggested conference will rcsult'ln some common and conclusive programme being adopted, and, thus clear the way fox the Government to proceed with tho development of tho province on line? generally acceptable.”