FURTHERING TARANAKI'S INTERESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1920, Page 4

FURTHERING TARANAKI'S INTERESTS.

The proposal to form a Taranaki Progressive League, is one that should strongly commend itself not only to ail members of public bodies in the produce, but to every member of the community. The want of some central organisation that would be the means of considering and voicing the needs and requirements of Taranaki as a whole has long been felt. There are, of course, purely local matters arising in various parts of the province that may seem to be of little interest to the generality, but even in these cases considerable benefit wi.l be derived by any backing that can ba given by an organisation representative of the whole province. In the larger matters, where united action is alone likely to achieve the ends in view; it 5s most essential that they should be advocated unitedly. The first step in this direction was taken in May last, when a conference of members of Parliament, representing the electorates of Taranaki, Stratford, Waitomo, Egmont and Patea, was held, and resolutions passed in favor of pressing forward the rapid completion of the Stratford-Okahukura railway; urging the fullest consideration by the Government of the desirability of the prosecution of the Te Roti-Motorua line; the re-opening of the Mount Egmont quarries; and the provision of a bridge over the Mokau. The conference ako unanimously resolved that a conference of delegates should be held with a viewto form a Progressive League for promoting Taranaki's interests. The date of this further conference has now been Axed for Monday, July 26, at the Municipal Chambers, Stratford, when it. may confidently be expected the League will coma into being, It is gratifying to find thai; the outstanding lesson of the late war—ih'e value of unity—is being utilised, anil there is no question that this move should bring all parts of the province into closer sympathy with one another, tie TtsiE aim being to secure the progress and prosperity of the whole. T'ae spirit animating the proposal is praiseworthy, and it is to be hoped that it will embrace all members of local bodie.i, chambers of commerce, dairy companies, and every citizen interested, no matter how little, in the welfare of Taranaki. The meeting deserves to be largely attended, and the movement taken up, not as a mere temporary expedient, but as a permanent means for securing pressing needs and requirements, and as a live factor in advancing the best interests of the whole province.