TARANAKI PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1920, Page 6

TARANAKI PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

PRAISE FROM ELTHAM COUNTS COUNCIL. Hearty appreciation of the work of the Taranaki Progressive League was expressed by several councillors at Saturday's meeting of the Eltham County Council. A lengthy circular letter wa's received from the League, setting forth the reasons for its existence and the objects which it sought to attain. The letter stated that - the Council's contribution would amount to £lO 10s.

The chairman (Cr. C. J. Belcher) said the formation of the League had been one of the best things that had happened in Taranaki. It had for its object the uniting of the whole province and cutting out parochialism. By concentrating on the most important works required in Taranaki they would get more done for them than they would if each little Railway League and other local organisations "continued to pull against each other, as had been the case in the past. He-had been a member of the recent deputation which went to Wellington on behalf of the League, and he was surprised at the amount of good which the. deputation had done. Tlie five Taranaki members were present, and there was not a sign of any parochialism during the whole of the proceedings. Already he had heard that the Government had sent a geologist up to examine the whole lino of the Ghura railway, to report on the coal deposits there, and he was also informed that a sum to provide for the opening of the Egmont quarries would be placed on the estimates this session. He was quite convinced that the League was going to do a great deal of good for Taranaki^ Cr. McGninness referred to the existence of the Hydro-Electric League, and asked if it was going to join in with the Progressive League. The chairman said that suggestion had been made, and he hoped to see all the snialfer leagues linked up with the big bod)'. Cr. E. J. Clifford asked if the Council had power to make a grant to the League. The chairman replied that the Council had the necessary authority. Cr. A. Campbell asked why tlie League was also collecting contributions from dairy factories. The chairman replied that the contributions from dairy factories Were very small. He knew there was a certain ainount of overlapping, but the League required all the money it could get. Cr. McOuinness remarked that if the League did nothing more than secure the opening of the Mount Egmont quarries it would be worth more than ten guineas to the Council. He moved that tlie contribution be paid. This was seconded by Cr. \V. K. Carter. Cr. A. Messena said that it seemed j little use prospecting for coal in the Oliura when they could not get sufficient miners to work the mines which were already open. The chairman replied that the great thing was to have the coal mines in their own province, and tlie difficulties in /egard to labor would be overcome after a time.