PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1921, Page 6

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER SCHEME. AN ATTITUDE OF WAITING. (brom Our Own Correspondent.) .Stratford, June 29. A meeting of the Taranaki Progress League was held at Stratford ? to-day. Present: Messrs. J. W. McMillan (chairman.), R. 11. Piggott, J. B. Richards, E, Dixon, and E. Walter. Mr. McMillan said that the Minister for Public Works had intimated that he favored the formation of the large power board as proposed by the Progress League, and the league had gone as far as they could go until the attitude of the different districts was ascertained. Mr. Dixon thought the southern districts were waiting to see what would come of the New Plymouth scheme. Mr. McMillan said that now that New Plymouth was up against it as regards finance the time was opportune for the formation of a provincial board, including New Plymouth, with the object of securing finance and pushing on with the works.

Mr. Richards said that it was no use waiting. The only way to find power was to appoint a responsible authority to find it, and that authority should be a power board. Mr. Dixon said the people in the south wanted to know to what scheme they had to look for power—whether it was to come from the north or from Mangahao. Mr. Richards said the Mangahao power would never come beyond Wanganui. Mr. Piggott said the Clifton County was in favor of a provincial board, but it was useless joining up with the smaller southern schemes. The nearest source of supply was New Plymouth, but they still desired the provincial scheme.

Mr. Qixon asked what Stratford had done in the direction of forming the board.

Mr. McMillan: Nothing. It would be of little use moving until we were sure of the support of the different districts.

Mr. Dixon moved that a committee consisting of Messrs. McMillan, Richards and Walters, be set up to estimate the costs of forming a power board and to notify the different districts as to the amount they would be expected to pay. The motion was carried. Mr. Richards moved that the foregoing committee be empowered to convene a conference of delegates from the districts which have signified their intention of joining the board.—Carried. CATTLE TICK. In regard to the cattle tick regulations, as forwarded by the Government, Mr. Richards said what he did not like about them was that they did not provide for the protection of clean country. He said that what he desired was that all cattle and dogs entering the clean districts should be dipped. Mr. Piggott said the regulations governing blackleg had been rigid and something of a similar nature was required in the case of the tick. Mr. Richards moved that the' A. and P. Associations- and the Farmers’ Union be asked to consider the advisability of having all cattle and dogs dipped before they are brought into clean districts, as a precautionary measure. The motion was carried.

The annual meeting of the league was fixed for Wednesday, July 27, and members expressed the wish that the meet-' ing be largely attended, as important matters affecting the league will be discussed.