TARANAKI PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1921, Page 6

TARANAKI PROGRESS LEAGUE.

MEETING GF THE EXECUTIVE. The executive of Hie Taranaki Progress 'League met at Stratford yesterday morning. Present: Messrs. J. W. McMillan (chairman), J. B. Richards, W. P. Kirkwood, E. Walter and A. Corkill. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs. E. Dixon, C. J. Belcher, W. R. Wright, and J. Connett. The Minister of Mines advised with reference to the survey of the Tangarakau coalfields that a survey party was at present at work in North Taranaki and would include Tangarakau in its programme. ELECTRIC POWER. Mr. L. Birks, chief Government electrical engineer, notified that he expected to visit the Taranaki district in March and would advise the league of the actual date as early as possible. Mr. Walter suggested that the present was a good time for Mr. Birks to visit Taranaki as he would be able to see the river at New Plymouth at it» worst time. He had noticed that New Plymouth had come down a good deal in stating what would he their minimum supply. It was agreed that the chairman caH. the next meeeting of the league during Mr. Birks’ visit.

The Eltham Hydro-electric League wrote stating that the committee could not see ite way clear to merge with the Progress League at present. the subscription. The sub-committee set up to go into the matter of the annual subscription reported as follows:1. That an income of £2*so per annum should be assured. 2. That county councils, borough councils and town boards be asked to subscribe equal to 1-500 of a penny on the capital of land within their respective districts. This is estimated to produce £l5O. 3. That dairy factory companies be asked to subscribe on the basis of cheese output as follows: Up to 100 tons, £1 Is; over 100 tons *up to 250 tons, £2 2s; over 250 tons up to 375 tons, £3 3s; over 375 tons, a sum equal to twopence per ton of cheese. This is estimated to produce £7O. 4. Harbor boards and meat freezing companies a subscription of £lO 10s each; estimated £2O. 5. All other members £1 Is each, £lO. Total income, £250. Mr Richards said the sub-committee had gone very carefully into the matter and he did not think the proposed rate of subscription was too much. Tn reply to Mr. Walter, he stated that on the basis mentioned the subscription from the Stratford County would be £l7 7s. The report was adopted and it was further decided that the capital value of local bodies be the capital value given in the 1919 Year Book.

EXPENSES OF COMMITTEE. Air. Kirkwood brought up the question of paying out of pocket expenses to members of the executive committee attending meetings. He said it was unreasonable to ask men to come long distances and give up their time in attending meetings unless the league was prepared to pay their expenses, and if the league was going to do any good it must have larger attendances. On Mr. Kirkwood’s motion, it was agreed to pay out of pocket expenses bo members of the executive. It ’was decided to pay the secretary a sum of £5O as salary from November 11, 1921, to A[ay 1, 1021.