BAY OF PLENTY DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 7538, 16 December 1920, Page 3

BAY OF PLENTY DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

Annual Meeting He'd Yesterday

I The annual meeting of the Bay ;ot Plenty Development League was held in the Coronation Hall at 11.30 a.m. yesterday, the .President (Mr R.Kin s ) in the chair. ihere were also prefent Messrs A. C. Isherwood (Pikowai) C Lally ancLA. Montgomery (T.e Puke), E.W.Beckett (representing Whakatane), J. A. Green, B. C.Robbins, W. W. Jones, W J Baigent, B. Dive, T.Tanner, and W. H. Gifford (Tauranga) and Mr H. E. Dowdy, Secretary Mr Dive (Mayor) extended a cordial welcome to those present, and hoped that the.businesi tojbe transacted would prove profitable to the whole of the Bay. After the minutes of the last meeting of the Executive had beed read, the conference regarding the proposed twenty-four hours service between Auckland and Gisborne was held — to be reported upon to-morrow—and at I o'clock the meeting adjourned till 2. On resuming the President read his annual report as follows: "The last annual meeting was held at Whakatane on December 9, 1919- During the year just passd the most important matters dealt with were —(r) Hydro-elec-tric scheme in the Bay of Plenty ; (2) Twenty-four hours service between Gisborne and Auckland via Tauranga; (3) Direct shipping connection between the Bay of Plenty and Southern ports,; (4) Construction of a traffic bridge alongside the railway bridge across Tauranga harbour ; (5) The speeding up of the construction of the East' Coast Railway ; (6) Tuarara'ngaia Block, adjacent to TeT^ko-Galatea Road."

',In the matter of the hydroelectric scheme for the Bay of Plenty : There can be no question as to* the importance of this matter. The report furnished to the Government by Mr Parry, Chief Electrical Engineer, shows that pnvision is made for supplying the Bay of Plenty from a main transmission line connecting the two-large power stations at Waikaremoana and Arapani. A/letter to hand from the Minister of Public Works., dated June* 6, 1920, states that it is proposed to further develop the Kaitur^a River at Okere for the immediate supply of kotorua and it is possible that this development may be made to fit in with the immediate requirements of portio.n of our district. Whilst the Omanawa electrical power works, controlled by the Tauranga Borough, provides excellent light and power for a" large area in the immediate vicinity of the Borough, still there isjurgen|tneed|of|theiarger scheme1 proposed by the Government, to meet the requirements of the counties of Opotiki, Whakatane, and the Maketu Riding of the Tauranga County " "The proposal to inaugurate a twenty-four hours service ; from Auckland to Gisborne and vice versa, is one that has-been under consideration for a long time. It is. hoped that as a result of the Conference arranged to deal with the matter that satisfactory results will take place. The thanks of the League are due to the officers of the ,New Zealand Railways, Postal department, Public Works Department, and Northern Steamship Company, who have kindly consented to meet the members of the Leaguß to consider the important question of a quick oassenger and mail service between Auckland and Gisborne, in addi tion to which, there would be considerable benefit conferred upon many centres of population throughout the Bay of Plenty by the inauguration of the proposed service." "Direct-shipping service between the Bay of Plenty and main ports of the South Island. — This, is a matter that calls for combination and concentration on the part of all sections of the community throughout the Bay of Plenty. The establishing of such a service as suggested would mean a considerable Saving in freight charges. From an economic point of view no effort should be spared in seeking to get a direct service as suggested. This could be accomplished possibly by special efforts being made to charter a suitable vessel and a few trial trios made to prove the Leagued contention." "Proposed traffic bridge across the harbour.—As an outcome of efforts made by your League, a conference of local bodies was held at Te Puke when it was decided to request that the Minister of Public Works be asked to make provision for a traffic bridge in conjunction with the railway bridge. At present the matter is in the hands o; the various local bodies concerned to further deal witft as occasion demands." "East Coast Railway construction—lt is satisfactory to note that the Government are tully alive to the necessity of speeding up the construction and thus expediting the opening up of large streetches of first class land, aiding development and produc-tion-two important factors in the present day requirements oi the Dominion as a whole and the Bay of Plenty in particular Agitation and stilt agitation should continue to be regarded as a useful weapon in urging a speeding up policy in regard to the East Coast railway. Those observations can apply with equal force in the matter of the railway bridge across the harbour, the completion of which would mark a red letter day in the history of the Bay of Plenty. The votes provided by Parliament during the past session for the various sections of the line now under

construction are as follows :— Waihi Eastward v 25,000 Tauranga West 20,000 Tauranga East 100,000 Mount Branch 5,000 Total 150,000 It is interesting to note that rails are now laid as far as Awakeri. Surveys are now being made by the Public Works Department for the prooused branch line to_ Whakatane. 'This branch line will be of immense value to farmers in linking up the East Coast Freezing Works with thre railway now in use from the Mount, and will, among many other benefits, provide cheap carriage on manures, besides the great saving it will be in the matter of stock being railed to the works instead of taken long distances by road as at present.'' Tuararangaiaßlock adjacent to Te Teko—Galatea Road. —In re sponse to communications from your League, the Minister of Lands, writing under date April 15, 1920, states that the block can be subdivided into eight sections with about 560 acres to 890 acres. It is said to be good grazing country. Each section would have plenty of fencing timber (hinau) and will be well watered by permanent streams. A survey of the block is now proceeding. "In conclusion it only remain^ for me to say that, the efforts of the League have fully justified its formation ; its continued usefulness is entirely dependent upon the moral and financial support accorded it. The withdrawal of Rotorna from the membership of the League was a matter of regret, and the lack of finance has unquestionably been a factor in-curtail ing the League's operations and as pointed out in a previous annual report the League is now, as it was then, sadly in need of funds. Membership cards are not taken up as they should be, the fee being practically nominal.- It is hoped with the active co-operation of local bodies and others interested that some useful financial scheme may be devised. It only remains for the incoming committee to become enthusiastic workers and to bear in mind the words of the great Cecil Rhodes : "So much to do and so little done." Let each and*all try to do their best for the Bay £>f Plenty, a district now in the dawn of a new era, full of great potentialities."^. The balance sheet showed that the 8 year started with a credit balance of £9 7s 7d and closed with a creditof 5s lid. Ihereceypts amounted to £1643 6d, and the expenditure to £25 6s 2d. The report and balance sheet were-adopted. Mr Montgomery thought the Dal'ance sheet a disgrace to the whole community. He thought the Development League was of the utmost imDortance to the whole Coast. Every local body in the district should contribute to the funds. Mr Beckett and Mr tsherwood both emphasised the need of greater interest by local bodies in the work of the League. The whole trouble was the lack of finance, and this should be met by the local bodies. Mr Lally said it was useless to expect the League to continue under present conditions*. Mem-; bers and local bodies shduld subscribe to the funds. Under the Public Revenues Act a local body coujd contribute one per cent of its revenue to such a purpose He hsd been instrumental in securing a grant of £10 from the Tauranga County, and without such subscriptions the League could not go on. The election 'of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows: Bresident, Mr B. C. Robbins. . Vice-Presidents : Messrs W. H. Gifford (Tauranga), R. King (Te Puke), A. C. R. Isherwood (Matata, Manawahe and Pikowai) and E. W..Beckett. It was decided to request the local bodies at Whakatane and Taneatua to appoint vice-Presi-dents'for their respective districts. The appointment of a secretary was left in the 'hands of the President, and the Secretary's honorarium was-fixed at £25 per annum. A general discussion ensued on various matters, and the following resolutions were passed. On the motion of Mr Isherwood, seconded by Mr Tanner, that the Executive heartily cooperate with the various local bodies in arranging a programme for the tour of the - ParJiajnentary party through the Bay of Plenty, and that the League assist in bringing any matters of-importance before them.

On the motion of Mr Isherwood, seconded by Mr Beckett, that the attention of the Public Works Department be drawn to the fact that the Matata railway station was not in a suitable position for the purpose intended, and should be moved into Matata.

On the motion of Mr Beckett, seconded by Mr Montgomery, that the Rotorua and Opotiki people be written to and asked to re-enter the League, and if they decide to do so to each appoint a Vice-president.

Mr Robbins pointed out the serious position in regard to the work of the Magistrate's Court throughout the Bay. It was impossible for one man to do the; whole of the district at present allotted to him. and the work was being considerably delayed in consequence. He moved that in view of the large accumulation of Court business throughout the district, in the. opinion of the League the district should be divided, ana a Magistrate appointed'for Bay of Plenty towns The motion was seconded by Mr Beckett and earned. The proceedings then termm■ated.