TOURIST AND EXPANSION. LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1921, Page 5

TOURIST AND EXPANSION. LEAGUE.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. J, WORK TO BE CONTINUED. NEW COMMITTEE ELECTED. The general meeting of the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League, which had been adjourned from last week, owing to the insufficient attendance, was held last night, when about thirty-five persons were present. Mr. T. C. List (president) occupied the chair. About a dozen apologies for absence were read, the general tone of the letters being that the league should not be allowed to go out of existence, as it had done' most useful work for the town. In opening proceedings the chairman expressed appreciation at the attendance, which, he said, was much larger than those with which the league had previously been favored. He also remarked on the manifestations of interest contained in the letters of apology. Since the previous meeting a circular bad been sent out setting out the reasons for the adjournment. Though it was unfortunate that on that occasion the meeting clashed with other gatherings, the experience of the league of late years had been very small attendances at annual meetings. This betokened a lack of interest, and it appeared to those who had been keeping the organisation alive that the public did not care whether the league continued or not. They also thought that/it was time some others took a band in the work. REVIEW OF PAST WORK. In pointing out that the league was of real value to the town, the chairman said that they had not been endeavoring to bring in more holiday-makers, for the accommodation was limited, but rather aimed to look after them when they arrived. From five to six hundred enquiries were dealt with annually, and the league could do a great deal more work if they had the active interest and help of the townspeople as a whole. There were many spheres in which the league could expend its usefulness, and he would like to see a new committee take charge of affairs in pushing on the work of developing the town. Reviewing what the league had done, Mr. List said they started out about nine years ago to make New Plymouth known throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand and elsewhere. One of the first works was to arrange for the .production of a cinema film, depicting the chief attractions and features of the town and district, and the pictures had been shown throughout New Zealand and Australia. This had been followed by the publication of booklets and tourist guides, and the league also had had numberless articles written and forwarded to the tourist papers in Australasia. There were many instances in which work had been done quietly and unostentatiously for the benefit of the town.

It was very necessary in the interests of New Plymouth that the league should go on. The past had been one of steady, sustained work, and while the committee had been quite satisfied during the war period to merely keep the league going, they now thought it was time for others to take an interest in the affairs. The finances were quite satisfactory. Last year a Government subsidy of £l5O had been obtained, the Minister in charge of the Tourist Department and his administrative officers evidently being pleased with the work that had been done for them without any request for assistance. Though a similar sum could not be expected again this year, a subsidy would, no doubt, be forthcoming. The credit balance of £126 now in hand had been hypothecated for the printing of a booklet to be distributed at Home, to catch those people who were intending to take up their residence in New Zealand. FUTURE OF THE TOWN. The present was no time to let up, as New Plymouth had taken a move, and it now behoved the citizens to push more vigorously tfian ever in the interests of the town. As a residential place, New Plymouth was without equal, and they had very great resources that were given to few towns. Hydro-electric power, and the development of the harbor were two great factors which would make for the progress of the community. The Tourist League was the publicity department ofc the town, and the town could not afford to let it drop. He therefore hoped thaj; greater interest would be shown in its affairs, and that business men would not rest content with merely giving their contributions, but would also take an active interest in the management. In concluding, Mr. List invited to discuss whether the League should continue or not. Ensuing discussion centred on the question of accommodation being provided for visitors, speakers contending that it was of no use encouraging people to visit New Plymouth unless room was available. The chairman replied that the league was rather devoting its efforts now to attracting permanent residents, and in addition endeavored to provide for- the tourists and visitors who came to the town.

Mr. S. W. Shaw said the attendance indicated, after all, that the public were not too apathetic, and the publicity given to the position of the league since the last meeting no doubt had had a beneficial effect. He agreed that it was time there was some “new blood” in the league, as those already on the council had shouldered the burden for a long time. DESIRE TO CONTINUE. Dr. Leatham expressed the hope that the league would continue its activities. He recalled that great interest was evinced when the organisation was first started, but in later years this had decreased, members being content to allow the chairman and a few others to carry on the work. Opinion seemed to be unanimous that the league should not be allowed to lapse, and he thought some of the younger business men ought to take a hand in the management of a movement which had been initiated and carried on for the benefit of the district. Messrs. J. R. Cruickshank and A. McHardy, as members of the executive for a number of years, urged that the league should not be allowed to lapse, and that the management should not be left to a few people. Mr. M. Avery expressed the opinion that the town had too many organisations, and he mentioned the Chamber of Commerce, Employers’ Association, Retailers’ Association, and tiie League. He advocated some big organisation to control the whole of this work, committees being elected for different subjects. They would then have a body with a membership of four or five hundred. Whether it was from vanity or narrow-mindedness, he thought there was too much tendency in the town to split up. Judging by the reports of the Chamber of Commerce, within the last twenty years he thought it missed about nina-

tenths of tbe work that could come within) its scope. An organisation such as hw favored would have a main executive,, from which certain members would retire 1 ’by rotation, thus leaving some with aj l knowledge of the work. In reply, the chairman said there had: certainly been continuity in the teaguefe work. Tbe real fault in the town lay with ' the young men, who criticised the work; of these organisations but took no active part in them. Hie men who were on tii.e committees could therefore get no relief. As president of the Chamber of Commerce, he could say that this body was doing invaluable work on behalf of the community, but did not always proclaim it. There were some men in the town who were heft to carry on all the public work, and this was not fair. The theory advanced by Mr. Avery of combining all the societies was. delightful in theory but impracticable. He instanced the case of the local Employers’ Association, a section of which, interested particularly in the halfholiday question, wanted to break off; as well as the case of tradesmen’s associations in other towns, which had merged with the chambers of commerce, and which subsequently had gone back to tbe old order of things. So far as the Tourist League was concerned, it had a special work and mission, and he could see no advantage just now in it joining up with other associations in the town whose interests were not similar. THE NEW COMMITTEE At the conclusion of the discussion the following committee was elected: Messrs. J. R. Cruickshank, M. Avery, T. H. Bates, T. C. List, R. A. Large, R. Day, G. Fraser, W. H. Skinner, C. H. Wynyard, E. Shaw, C. Fairbrother, and E. Cave. At a subsequent meeting Mr. T. C. List was re-elected chairman, Mr. Gordon Fraser was appointed deputy-chairman, Mr. C. H. Wynyard treasurer, and these officers, with Messrs. J. R. Cruickshank and C. Fairbrother, an executive. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. W. H. Skinner and R. Day, were set up to make enquiries regarding the fencing, etc., of the Old Settlers’ Obelisk, near the Ngamotu Beach, with a view to making it more accessible to tbe public. The executive were authorised to proceed with the publishing of a booklet fo» distribution at Home, which is in preparation. The question of securing camping accommodation in the summer near the Pouakai ranges, at the top of Carrington Road, was discussed, and further enquiries are to be made. Mr. Cruickshank referred to the sentimental tie between old Plymouth and New' Plymouth, and when the new booklet is available special efforts will be made to get into touch with the people of old Plymouth. It was decided to erect a large notice board in front of the secretary’s office in Egmont Street. It was agreed that the committee meet regularly on the evening of every first Thursday in the month at the secretary’s office.