RAILWAY WORKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 7

RAILWAY WORKS

SOUTH ISLAND SV3AIN LINE WELLINGTON PROGRESS LEAGUE INTRODUCED. TBK rEESS ASSOCIATION. BLENHEIM. June 14. Strong words about the attitude taken up by the Canterbury Progress League in. the matter of railway construction wore used at. the annual meeting of the South Island Main League. .Members remarked that tho Canterbury Progress League was reducing Canterbury to the level of the dog-in-the-manger, and the effect on public opinion throughout the Dominion in relation to rjublio works' development was hardly advantageous to the southern provinco. On the motion oi the nowly-elected president (Mr E. H fenny) the following motion was "passed, and ordered to be circulated throughout Now Zealand: —"This league is filled with astonishment and indignation at tho narrow-mindedness and parochialism displayed by the Canterbury Progresa League in refusing to co-operate with tho people of Marlborough in urging the . claims of South Island main trunk lines, and regards the attempt to secure exclusive preference for the Otira tunnel, as a deliberate perversion of too supreme importance to tho Dominion of linkingup the main trunk lines and more unjustifiable because the provision already mad© and promised for the Otira tunnel assures the completion of that work in thei near future; and this undertaking could not have been prejudiced by support to the larger project. Moreover, our leaguo considers it has been treated in a cavalier fashion by tho Canterbury League, inasmuch as it was always able to count on the co-operation of Canterbury in past years. This league trusts that the selfishness of the Canterbury Leaguo wjll be noted throughout New Zealand, atid widely oondemned, >as contrary to ■tahe best interests of the country in the mat tor of public works development." AN EXPLANATION. PEE PBUBS ASSOCIATION. COERISTOHTIRCH. June 14. With, reference) to the telegram from Blenheim, regarding, the attitude of the Canterbury Progress League towards tho South Island Main Trunk line, it is explained that the following motion was carried at a meeting of the executive on June 2nd: "That, the league realises %he importance of the South Island Main Trunk line being proceeded with, and will make the best use of any opportunity that arises to support the completion of the line." WELLINGTON LEAGUE CKITIOISED. FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCIHURCH, June 14. With reference to the Blenheim telegram regarding the Canterbury Progress Leaguo, Mr A. G. Henderson, vice-president of the league, says that perhaps at the heart of the Blenheim resolution is the activity of the Wellington Central Progress League, which has extended its district to include Marlborough, Nelson, and part of tho West Coast, and may desire to put a spoke in Canterbury's wheel. The Canterbury League wants to see the South Island Main Trunk line completed, and »Ir Henderson says its support to the vVest Coast line does not mean that it will not support the completion of the East Coast line. There is no dog-in-tho manger or parochialism about the Canterbury League.