TARANAKI’S INTERESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1921, Page 4

TARANAKI’S INTERESTS.

PROGRESS LEAGUE DISCUSSION. SHOULD OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE BE SOUGHT? An interesting discussion took place at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Progress League, arising out of a suggestion made by Mr. W. P. Kirkwood that the league should amalgamate with the Central Progress League. Wellington, with the object of enlisting the assistance of that bo*y in bringing Taranaki’s interests to the notjee of the Government.

Mr. Kirkwood said he was satisfied that it would not be advisable to join with the Auckland League. At the recent annual meeting of that body a resolution was passed to the effect that the Bay of Plenty railway should be pushed from both ends, and also that the line from Waihi to. Tauranga should be pushed from both ends, but nothing was said about pushing the StratfordOkahukura line from both ends. Auckland had always turned Taranaki down, whereas Wellington had endorsed the league’s resolution asking that the work should be pushed on from Tahora. Mr. Kirkwood also maintained that the community of interest was greater between Wellington and Taranaki than between Auckland and Taranaki.

Mr. -1. B. Richards agreed with Mr. Kirkwood that Taranaki had nothing to gain from the Auckland League. Auckland had their own railways and roads to push on. and wanted to see the Stratford line pushed on from the Main Trunk to the Ohura. The same arguments, he contended, also applied to Wellington, and Taranaki had nothing to gain from that source. Wellington would use Taranaki to obtain Wellington’s wants, but would not do much to assist Taranaki. Mr. Richards added that there was great rivalry between Wellington and Auckland, and Taranaki had nothing to gain from either. Assuming that, there was the greatest community of interests between M ellington and Taranaki, was it likely that Wellington was going to help Taranaki to get better communication with Auckland? His opinion was that Taranaki should keep independent of both outside leagues, because If they did join the Wellington League they would simply be “a hair in the dog’s tail” and would be wagged whichever way Wei-, lington chose. The chairman expressed the opinion that if Taranaki joined with Wellington they would still retain their independence of action, and could protest against anything which did not meet, with their approval. Mr. E. Walter said he was opposed to amalgamation. The Taranaki progress League was for the benefit of Taranaki and the Wellington League for the benefit of Wellington. If they joined with Wellington it might have the effect of making Auckland antagonistic when Taranaki wanted Auckland’s help . jn regard to hydro-electricity. It was agreed to defer the matter until the next meeting of the league.