PROGRESS LEAGUE ACTIVITIES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26465, 5 July 1951, Page 3

PROGRESS LEAGUE ACTIVITIES

IMPROVED SUPPORT ADVOCATED MR LANGFORD’S VIEWS Concern about the poor attendances It the monthly meetings of the Canterbury Progress League was expressed iy the Public Relations Officer of the Christchurch City Council (Mr T. H. Langford) at the annual meeting of the league yesterday. “I urge that all local bodies and organisations associated with the league ake immediate stock of the situation that confronts the people of the South bland to-day,” said Mr Langford. I im sure that such stocktaking will bring to them, all an awareness of the lecessity to support actively this important Canterbury organisation ' “It is possible that the representation tf many of them on the various centennial committees has taken toll of their time; nevertheless we find problems staring us in the face that demand Ee attention of responsible authorities the province. This attention only in all-embracing body such as this can jive. “Our city has become the second city numerically in the Dominion, and our province can carry a greater human oad than any other,” continued Mr Langford. “It is necessary to co-ordin-ate our forces and each take a fair share of the administrative burden. We must banish the pettiness which exists, and make this league the most important body in Canterbury IT we are to profit by the circumstances which exist n the world to-day.” Referring to new Settlers, Mr Langford said that two-thirds of these people had been drafted to the North Island. About 75 per cent, of the national expenditure on capital works was in the North Island. “We must take steps to correct the balance,” Mr Langford said.

An effort had been made to establish regional planning committees, and it had temporarily failed, he continued. The reason appeared to be a lack of complete co-operation and understanding by the city and rural representatives. Mr Langford added: “That Canterbury is the heart of New Zealand is proved by the fact that 11.65 per cent, of the wheat grown in the Dominion is produced here, 49.81 per cent, of the oats, 64 per cent of the barley, 65 per cent, of the peas, 55.58 per cent of the linseed. 95 per cent of the lupins, 23 per cent, of the rye corn, 93 per cent, of the rape, 57 per cent, of the potatoes, 36.85 per cent, of the onions, and most of the ryegrass. Most clover and other seeds come from the South Island’s wonderfully fertile soils.”