A SOUTHERN VIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 19 June 1922, Page 4

A SOUTHERN VIEW.

AYe are glad to see that the extraOrdinary attitude of the retiring president of the Canterbury Progress League towards public works expenditure in Auckland is criticised by the Christchurch "Press," which is all the more interesting because the "Press" has little love for this part of the world. Commenting on Mr. Henderson's address, the "Press" says that the Government may not have treated Canterbury and Westland quite fairly in the matter of railway development, "but that is no argument against the construction of the North Auckland railway, which will open up a great area of country for settlement. If the effect of building that railway is to 'feed and fatten the city of Auckland,' so much the better for Auckland, and the Dominion, which will benefit much more 'by the railway proving a payable enterprise than if it were to be run at a loss." On the following day the "Press" returned to the subject in an article rebuking the local Liberal newspaper for saying that expenditure in Auckland was a case of spoils to the victors. "It is true that during the past decade Auckland has received the lion's share of the. public works expenditure, but it would be difficult to show that the excess of expenditure in that province over the expenditure in any other province is in itself a sign of unfairness on the part of the present and preceding Governments." ln view of the drift of population northwards, "it is natural that the requirements of Auckland should be greater than those of Canterbury." These statements may strike many as recitals of the obvious, but they are worth reproducing, if only to show that all Canterbury does not share the views of the ex-president of the Progress League. We did not suppose it did. We repeat that it is deplorable that at this time of day this kind of rivalry between the provinces should continue. Rivalry can be healthy and legitimate up to a point, but when it comes to denying the wisdom of completing an obviously necessary work in another province, it is time to protest. There is, of course, a corresponding obligation on the part of Auckland to try to see South Island problems through Southern eyes.