Canterbury and Marlborough.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16885, 13 July 1920, Page 6

Canterbury and Marlborough.

In yesterday's paper we printed a telegram from Blenheim reporting some remarks by Mr Penny, of the South Island Main Trunk League, respecting that body's recent difference with the Canterbury Progress League. Mr Penny is grateful for an assurance cnat lias been given him that the Progress League' is quite welldisposed towards the Marlborough League and its objects, and ho explained that his League's outburst of indignation was due to the fact that a report in "The Press" had inadvertently indicated that the Canterbury body had " deliberately turned the Main Trunk "line down." The Progress League did nothing of the kind, nor was it reported to have done so. There appears to be some doubt as to the exact terms of the resolution carried by the executive of the League six weeks ago, a doubt that is not removed by the letter from the secretary which we print to-day, for he does not quote the terms of the resolution, but only a summary of the instructions given to him. We cannot see that there is any Teason for challenging our report, but this is after all a point of little importance. "What does matter is the attitude of the Progress League. Does or does not the League intend to devote its energies towards agitating for the Main Trunk lino before the completion of the Otira Tunnel in a reasonable time is assured ? It is perfectly right that the League should "make the best use "of any opportunity that arises to sup- " port the completion of the , Main "Trunk line," but we hope it will make it clear to our Marlborough friends that with Canterbury the completion of the east-and-west connexion conies first. Devotion to this cause will not prevent Canterbury from giving assistance to the Marlborough agitation, but the Main Trunk Line League must understand that it will be unfair to expect Canterbury to allow its sympathy and assistance to jeopardise in the smallest degree the prospects of the Otira Tunnel. TJie Progress League will only heap up embarrassments for itself if it does not make this clear.