PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9363, 3 August 1918, Page 3

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

COUNTY COUNCIL AFPKOACHED

THE MUTUAL ADVANTAGES

A deputation consisting' of Messrs H. iiolhind (Mayor of Cliristchurch), xi. 0. Aclanci, Jj. liirks, and i\ K. (Jlirnie, representing the Canterbury Progress League, waited on the mem-

bers oi? the Ashburtoii Borough- and County Councils, at tlnj County Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, to explain the objects of the league and elicit, support.

Mr Holland explained that the purpose of ttie league was to promote the development and advance the interests ol' Canterbury. Although the first steps were taken iu.Christohurcli, the movement was by no sense a city one, and the promoters had. at no time encouraged the idea, that the interests of the city should be the prime, or-even the primary, consideration. The city vi-as necessarily concerned in everything that makes i'or- the welfare of the country, and the relations between town and country were, in the nature of things, very close a-nd intimate, so that- even a suggestion of antagonism between town and country inevitably would prejudice the interests of both. The promoters were most anxious thsit there should bo no possible room for doubt a« to the spirit of the movement or purpose for which the league had been brought into existence. It was intended that the league should be re-

garded in the country districts as essentially an organisation for the advancement of the country, and that those, district:;, through thoir brandies or local bodies, should take a left-ding part in shaping fcho policy and directing the administration of the whole organisation. The- first object of the league was to secure the rco-operation

of town and country. The functions of tlio league fall in three sections: such jus promotion of public works and

the improvement of industr.i,-il and business facilities; the advancement of

Canterbury in Now Zealand and jibroad; and the social life of the people. In the latter tho movement

of education woiild be given earnest attention. Prominence, would also be yiven to the promotion of railways to hrhiK back-blocks into quicker co'tnnninioation with j)rincipal centres and ports. Better roads and Uhe oponinp of new ones would receive, consideration, and the utilisation and improve-

ment of waterways wherever possible,

The league*, also proposed to promote agricultural and pastoral interests and

general industrial and commercial interests. It would also advocate the extension of the . Lake, Coleridge electrical scheme. One of the main func-

tions would be to see that every dis-

trict would liave the, regular help of other districts and of the city in every movement of aclv.inwmciit.. One of the first '.duties of the- league would be to collect information of the industries, commerce, exports, imports, eliimii.e, soil, and natural conditions of the province, the health and condition of the people, the holiday and pleasure resorts, the recreation and sports, both for the instruction of the. people of the province and for the purpose of advertisement abroad. 'It was proposed to make- a levy of Gd in the £1000 in the. capital/value of the country north of the .K.-mgicnta, and this would Provide a. sum of £1200, which would e-uabie the league to commence work

forthwith and Do carry on for a year. The share for this district would be £214 10s under the above scheme. Some people might argue that this was not a. time to start the'movement. He assured them that the, machinery had been started to promote- the league in -1912. /Operations., had .then been held over owing to the war. He contended that then* would be a large

influx of population to New Zealand after tin: war. That being the case, it was necessary to put their hon?o in

order. Canterbury had not- been properly treated for the last 40 years. lie quoted figures' to show how the Public Works Department catered for the North Island as against- the South, and added that it was no wonder the population of the former was going up by leaps and bounds. Me instanced the; delay in the completion of the Otira Tunnel, and stated that for every week in delay in completion of the

tunnel £1000 was being wasted in in-

terest on money already expended in the West Coast railway. He also pointed out the delay in handling coal, timber, etc. At the next general election for members of Parliament, the South Island would lose three members and the North Island would gain three, which would be, practically six votes gained for the North. It the league presented a united front to _the Public. "vVorks Department and insisted on hydro-electricity being .spread all over mo. province, it woidd have done a great work. In order .to show how ctieap electricity was, he stated that out of ;jys>6 consumers in Christchurch '^2 11 consumers did not pay "more than

■-•Is per month for their electricity. Theexports from the South Island were just half tho.se from the North. These tacts, he considered, did not make, pleasant reading. In regard to subscribing to the. fund, the. council had power to do. ho. If the council gave

I assistance for the first year and the ' loaguo could not .justify its existence, thf.'ii it would not be asked to i;oniinue Miboeribing. iVIr H. D. Acland said the Auckland papers were always battling for Auekhind. H svjis time to rise up and prevent Canterbury being the milch cow for other parts. It- was time to do something to present a united front and to try and push on tho province, 'iliey had no better railway sy.si.om now' in Canterbury than they had 10 'years ago. In Ashburton thf.y bad a new railway station, which ivas to t'h;r public more inconvenient, than the oki one. There had been larL'-e increases in taxation :\-> against 15 yr-.tir-i ago, but he asked: r'la.d they got .-uiythiiiri. in return ? 'Pbey wanted l>ette:schools, telephono exten.'-ion, electricity, etc. This could only bo rsrramplishe'd by unity. Tlie_ people in Canterbury have been paying" for subsidies given to improve Kile North 'Islauu. He instancfd the main road to the I'nngHjata. \v!'.ere. no subsidy had beon obtained" for its improvement. If thatroad been Lioon in the .\"ori;h Island it *vr,u!d hii.ve been snb^ivlised long ago. Hoys in country districts should be .'ible to get the same secondary educa-

tiou as lads in fcl»» t»ig towns. Tliis country wns veil snj>j»]ied with ondow-iiMMit-i for ediif.iM'oji. rlc lizard thai Iht-ry-was n. iddvc iii ot-brr pm-Ls u> ; uit.'tnpt to t:ike tiw.iy tisos* 1 endov.--::i(ini:, I'roiu Cant^rijury. A]c h. JJirks iulvofai/fd tuiiiy, wliit-li would oa-rry hotter force when iniproveinents were re([uired. JLe ulso pointed out that th<> cost of representing their views would he less. The success of the province depended upon ' the. progress of the .counti^' .districts. The people in the towns realised that it was highly necessary to co-operate with the country districts. "TheMinisters would also- appreciate cooperation when concessions and grants were asked for, :iiul_hc i'elt sure more sympathy and practical support would he forthcoming.

Mr P. R. Clihiie advocated broad vision and unselfish motives, and contended that they had this class of men behind the. league. The amount they were asking local bodies for . could be supplemented by private subscriptions. He maintained that 6d for every £1000 was not much to ask a. property owner for. They had already received grants from various local bodies nearer Christchurch, including Akaroa. The league should also interest itself in the work of repatriation. This "work called for the assistance of all sections of the eoimmmity, and none .would be better equipped to handle the problem tluin the league. Ho emphasised that the league was nob a town organisation. It would do its best to boost up the country. Ho believed" that they had the right men at the -wheel, and that they were bound to succeed.

Mr It. Gnlbraith stated that the Ash burton County Council was the, most liberal in, New Zealand. He. considered the amount asked for would exceed the unauthorised expenditure.

Mr Holland said he did not think the County would have any trouble to raise the small amount asked for out of unauthorised expenditure—that is, if the valuation of the County wa.sa.ny basis to go oh. Mr C. iieid referred to the extension of the Lake Coleridge system, and stated tliat it was promised to this district long ago. In the meantime they \vcrv< extending the system in Christchurch.

Cr Climie said this^ was a strong argument for the league. The war had held up the country extension owing to lack of material for main lines. Mr Keid said he wanted to know how they could still carry on the extension in Christc'hureh ■? Mr Holland replied that unless they got t'ho league properly launched Auckland would get its electric system and Ashburton and•■ Tinia.ru would be left out.

The chairman thanked the deputation. He stated, that ho was glad to learn that the league had wider views than he had thought when lie attended' the conference in Christehurch. At that time he had thought that it was Ohristehurch and the Midland Railway that the league had in view. He considered if the league ''advanced the interests of'the country, it would return, sood measure. The council would carefully consider the matters the deputation had put before it.' Mr Galhraith thanked the deputation for coming to Ashburton. Mr Holland, in acknowledging the thank.-, said he Avould bo pleased to furnish any further information that the people, of Ashburton desired. The council then decided to. hold.the matter of a donation over until next meeting. i