“Continued Awareness” Of League’s Work

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30808, 21 July 1965, Page 7

“Continued Awareness” Of League’s Work

“There is evidence of continued awareness of the value of the Progress League to Canterbury,” says the report to be presented at the fortyseventh annual meeting of the Canterbury Progress League on July 28. The continued support of local bodies through their grants provides a sound financial basis on which the league can plan confidently for the advancement of the province, says the report. The report lists by name the Christchurch City Council and 23 other borough and county councils as members, 92 individual members, and 93 business firms as members. Summarising the year’s activities, Mr H. H. Deans, the league’s president, says that strong support was given by the league for the speedier installation of landing aids at Christchurch International Airport. "The inauguration of pure jets is now a matter of history,” he says. “However, the importance of tourism in the economics of New Zealand will snowball in the future.” The Boeing Aircraft Company of America had made detailed projections of future world air-traffic. The various Pacific routes would carry 3jm persons in 1965, or 19.2 per cent of the inter-contin-ental traffic. In 10 years, it was estimated that this would rise to B.Bm persons or 25.4 per cent of the world traffic. “The route predicted for the most rapid rise is that from the United States and Canada to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands," Mr Deans says. “Boeing estimates that the traffic to the South Pacific will rise from 150,000 in 1965 to Im, a rise of more than 650 per cent. No other industry is likely to assist New Zealand’s balance of payments at such a phenomenal rate.” Discontinuation of the brand “Canterbury Lamb,” licensing hours and town and regional planning were other matters

discussed by the league during the year, Mr Deans says. The league's small irriga-tion-demonstration farm at West Melton has been cultivated, topdressed, and sown in lucerne, says Mr Deans. Discussions regarding experiments on the farm have taken place with the Department of Agriculture. “It is hoped that results here will demonstrate the value of irrigation,” says Mr Deans. “This ./ork has been carried out on a voluntary basis, and in particular the help of Mr C. A. Inch and his family is very much appreciated ” The land development committee arranged field days at the Eyrewell State Forest and the Winchmore irrigation station, and an inspection of land development in North Canterbury. The integration of the league’s administration with the appointment of Mr' J. N. Todd as secretary and Public Relations Officer, has proved successful, Mr Deans says, allowing much-increased activity by the league.