PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1921, Page 6

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

PAST YEAR’S WORK. EXECUTIVE’S ANNUAL REPORT. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Progress will be held in the Municipal Buildings, Stratford, on „the 27th irnst. The executive’s first annual report, to be presented to the meeting, reviews the primary steps taken in connection with the formation of the League, and the subsequent decision arrived at by a representative conference of local bodies in July of last year, when it was decided to institute a league to further the general interests of Taranaki.

Touching on the question of public works undertakings in the province, the report states that in August a representative deputation was sent to Wellington and met the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works. They received an assurance that in the allocation of money an adequate amount would be voted for the important. public works in Taranaki. Continuing,’the executive remarks: “The Public Works Statement issued in October was most disappointing, and at a special meeting of the League in October, the matter of proposed action of the Government in connection with the Stratford-Main Trunk hue was seriously considered, with the result that a strong protest was forwarded from your league, and at the instigation of your league similar protests were forwarded from other loeil bodies in Taranaki.

“It must be admitted that early completion of the Stratford - Auckland Alain Trunk line is not only of provincial importance, but is a question of importance to the whole Dominion, and since the Public Works Statement was issued your executive (have had the matter under constant consideration, with a view to obtaining redress, but up to the present your committee cannot claim that their, representations have been very successful. In connection with this matter the league still strongly protests againstj the action which has been taken by the j Hon. Minister of Public Works, such action not being in conformity with his statement that ‘important main trunk lines would receive the first consideration.’ Since the issue of the Public Works Statement there has been considerable expenditure on railway construction in the Auckland province, and in several cases the lines under construction are, from the matter of importance, not to be compared with the urgency and vital importance of the Stratford-Auckland Main Trunk railway.”

The league's policy on the question of hydro-electric power -is reviewed at length, the executive stating that the Taranaki Hydro-Electric League had been absorbed into the Progress League. A sub-committee was appointed to report on the matter of promoting a petition to form a power board, and they affirmed the desirability of one board, extending over the whole of Taranaki. ■They urged that a multiplicity of power boards would result in partjal development, which would in turn result in some districts attaining the advantage o r electric power, while others would be without.

The executive’s work during the year also included representations to the respective Government departments regarding the development of the Mount Egmont quarries and the Tangarakau coalfields. *

Representations were made to Hon. Prime Minister, drawing his attention to the necessity for improving the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service, so that connection with the WellingtonNew Plymouth mail service will be assured. Early in April a satisfactory reply was received from the General Manager of New Zealand 'Railways, indicating that certain improvements had been effected.

The Te Roti - Opunake line question was referred to Mr. Dixon with a view to obtaining reports of To Roti,' Manaia and Opunake districts concerning the Public Works Statement. Air. Dixon unfortunately was unable 'to get in touch with representatives from the districts mentioned, and ultimately reported that in his opinion no good object would be achieved by obtaining a report.

On March 31 the league had a membership of 43, donations being received from 18 local bodies, 74 dairy companies and one meat company. The accounts show a credit balance at March 31 of £56 2s 4d. The executive express a desire to see the membership increased, and stress the need for more co-opera-tion and mutual support between the Various districts in Taranaki.