CANTERBURY AND MARLBOROUGH.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16884, 12 July 1920, Page 6

CANTERBURY AND MARLBOROUGH.

MAIN TRUNK LINE

(special to "the TRESS.")

BLENHEIM, July 10

The explanation made by the president of the Canterbury Progress League was referred to at tho meeting of the South Island Main Trunk Railway League to-day. Mi* E. H. Penny, the president, warmly welcomed Mr Henderson's words, and said that the assurance they contained meant a big thing to Marlborough. Tho foundation of the Marlborough complaint, he said, was a report appearing in a Christchurch paper—one of the best and most reliable papers in the Dominion—wnicli it would seem inadvertently indicated that tho executive of the Canterbury Progress League had deliberately turned the Main Trunk line down. He did not think that Marlborough was to be blamed for* its show of resentment. However, there was no use in going over that ground again. What he wanted to say now was that the League had good reason to bo pleased with the new turn of events, and that he knew tho people of Marlborough would be delighted to work in co-operation with their 'Canterbury friends ?or what was their primary ambition. He would like to be able •to think that the recent episode, so far from estranging this province and its powerful neighbour, ha.d actually had the effect of strengthening their friendship, and thus greatly improved the prospects for an early connexion of Christchurch and Blenheim by rail. He believed that that was the case, and tfyat the chances of the Main Trunk line were never brighter. "This is the psychological moment," said Mr Penny. "Let us take advantage of it and_ join Canterbury with as largo and influential representation of this province as possible for the purposes of the joint deputation to wait on the Ministers at Wellington shortly." A letter from Christchurch suggested the 16th inst-. as the date for the deputation. It was agreed to observe Canterbury's convenionco in the matter, and arrangements were nAde to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce for tho organisation of a representative delegation from Marlborough. ■ [The report referred to by Mr Penny was that of "The Press," which was a perfectly accurate one.]