ADVANCE WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 117, 11 February 1920, Page 8

ADVANCE WELLINGTON

J. CENTRAL PROGRESS LEAb'lffi A LOCAL BRANCH FORMED I DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Wth the object offurthering the devclonment of the Wellington provincial j district a meeting of citizens, held in ' the Council Chamber at the Town Hall 1 last, evenim.'. decided to form a branch of the Centr.il Progress League. There was an attendance of about twenty ppr- '. sons, including several city councillors, and the chair was occunied by the Mayor CIV. J. P. Luke, .UP., C.M.G.). Tho Mnvor said that while they were out to form a Progress League for the Wellington district they should not bo nnrochial in their outlcok. They would do well to associate themselves with thorn who were intent on increasing the nroduction of tho country in order that the Dominion's financial liabilities might be met. Tho Wellington province needed a "boost up." Ho did not say that the nublic men of Wellington were not as nrogressive as the public, men of other centres, but they might 1» a little more modest.. There was a great deal that could be done in the province. One of the first things that needed attention was th» matter of communications between Wellington and the outlying districts. Better roads were required in order, to bring the settlers into closer touch with the city, and more could bo dons in the way of using motor vehicles for commercial purposes. A dock in Wellinston would urove a. great factor in the development of the port, as it would brine increased trade. The City CounoiLwould look nnon the league as an adinnct to civic, administration, and would be prepared to assist its objects in every wav passible. The city must keep up to darn in its transit and lighting facilities: it could not wait for the completion of the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. A modern steam plant would bo nut in shortly to provide more for Hie citv. Ho balioved that it' would be tinssiblo for electricity to !>e generated in the Tinner Hutt district from the big volume of wnter_ there. After passing I through the turbines, the water could be used for supplying the needs of the citizens of Wellington. With _ respect to town-olanninsr, Mr. Luke said ho considered that the time had come when a board of three competent engineers—two associated with the City Engineershould be called together to 'bring down a comnrehensive scheme of development. That was the only way by which any nractical good could come of the many suggestions for improvement that had been put forward from time to time. Courage in Both Hands. Mr. C. M, Luke said the time had arrived when the Government .should take its courage in both hauds and proceed with those works that' would tend to the improvement and progress of tho Dominion as a whole. He belierad the climate of the Wellington district was the best in the Dominion, and, that being so, it was their duty to do all they could to make tho .disti-ict attractive. It would be necessary to stir tho Government to action in prosecuting, pubic works. The Dominion could not progress unless there were, linked up every means by which production could be increased, thus ena'bling Now Zealand to pay its great war debt. Mr. Luke moved: 'That this meeting of Wellington citizens, realising tho necessity of a continuous body whose function shall be to awaken' interest in matters of public works and progress, to co-ordinate and assist the eflorts of our. city and district, here and now resolves itself info the Wellington branch of the Central Progress League, with power to add to its numbers." Mr. Win. Field, M.P., seconded the resolution, and expressed the hope that the leaguo would become a very live body. An enormous amount of work required, to bo done in the way of furthering the interests of the Dominion as a whole, but what they were parthulnrly concerned with was the Wellington district. What public men needed was to have the public behind them, and to feci that public opinion, was supporting them in their activities. Everyone must deplore the tact that the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme had not been pushed forward to the extent that could have been desired. It would be their duty to impress upon the Government the necessity for hastening the completion of the Mwignhao works. At the same time, other water-power undertakings would have to be taken in hand in the province, as lie agreed with the views of the Mayor that insufficient power would be available from. Mangahao to servo those portions of the district which would require reticulation. Other matters which required attention without delay wero tho improvement cf the Packakariki road and the erection of « new railway station, for Wellington. Moreiailvnvs were needed to opr.n un the <-mnti'.v. The Progress League could 'very well devote attention to the improvement of mountain tracks, particularly the track over the Tnraruas. In Colonel Mitchell, M.P., the league had a very live secretary, and he wished tho organisation every success. Attractive Conditions. Mr. John Fox, who said he' had just returned from a visit to the Old Country, staled that things at Home were bad and thousands of peoplo would come to tho Dominion if the conditions here wero sufficiently attractive. It was a fact that of lato years public enterprise in making the Dominion more attractive had been lacking. The safety of Australia and New Zealand depended upon an increased population, and in Australia especially it was recognised that unless more peoplo were encouraged to settle there somebody else might step in and take possession. The danger to which ho referred should >bo 'recognised in Now Zealand also, and the country should be made increasingly attractive to immigrants of the right type. He trusted that the feaguo would be successful in its objects, and that tho public would be aroused to a realisation of the fact that greater enthusiasm was needed if the Dominion wore to become progressive. . Mr. M. Badger stressed the need for influencing tho forces of Labour to take an active part in the various leagues that had been formed in the Dominion for the purpose of making tho country a. better place to live in. If the league came to be looked upon with suspicion bv any section of tho.public then it would be a failure. The resolution was carried.

Local Patriotism. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt moved: "That this meeting urges the citizens of Wellington to. develop that local patriotism in the city which is so necessary to its progress anil prosperity; to.realise that fho city in which they live has a just claim to their time and generosity; ami to make a united effort to make Wellington a nobler and better city to live in for themselves, and an inspiring legacy to hand nn to their children." Mr. Hunt said that the average citizen of Wellington was a very self-centred and apathetic gentleman. That was a deplorable state of tilings, for every man should be prepared to devote a portion' of his time to the welfare of the community. There was need to awaken a civic spirit, and the children should bo taught, the meaning of civic responsibility. The Town-Plan-ning Association would assist tho league in every way by striving to promote a trim ir"imii;iity suirit. Mr. G. Frost, of the City Council, seconded the resolution, and said the timehad arrived when'the Government should lie compelled to work in unison with the local bodies. The tendency of tho Government was to be defiant in its attitude to the local bodies, and as long as that '■■-.: 'n"\nH t"ue nrngrfvs in live country. The league should. mess for the deviation of the Hinuilnka railway line and the earlv completion of the Canterbury and Marlborough portions of the ?outli Island Main Trunit railway, lie trusted that the citizens of Wellington wmld support the league in every way. "More Action—Less,Talk." Colonel G. Mitchell, who was received with applause, paid the people should pet to work to obtain better schools and more railways. In the past there had been a great dflal too much talk, and what was wanted in tho future was inoro action and less talk. Ho had been in formed that 20,000 horse-power could bo

obtained from the Unit River at the samo cost per unit as from Mangahao, and, in addition lo that, it would ho possible to obtain an increased water supply for the city. The league should urge the development of water-power schemes, for without plenty of waterpower tho country could not go ahead. Ho suggested that the league should examine the possibilities of the llutt River fiom a power-producing point of view, anil, if necessary, set up an electric power (board to put the work in hand. Mr. TV. Stuart Wilson pointed out that development schemes would cost a great deal of money, and the only way to raise that money was to improve tho productivity uf the soil. In this connection, he suggested that boys' agricultural clubs- should be established; if this were dono they would become just as successful as clubs of a similar character in the United States

The resolution proposed by .Mr. Hunt was carried.

On the motion of Mr. W. Stuart Wilson.it was decided to adopt the consti-, tulinn of the Otego Expansion league. Officers were elected as foiluw—President, Mr. C. M. Luke; vice-presidents, Messis. G. Frost, R. A. Wright, M.P., W; 11. Field, M.P., and TV. D. Hunt-, committee, Messrs. Leu. M'Kenzic, RHill. TV. Stuart Wilson, ,T. Hutcheson, A. Tolan, M. F. Luckie, ,T Cotton. T. Forsyth, A. Leigh Hunt, P. C. Watts, ,T. Fox, F. Castle, C. M. Banks, llardie Shaw, 'ani TV. MacAlister; secretary, Colonel G. Mitchell. MP.; treasurer, Mr. W. Stuart Wilson. ] Mr. C. M. Luke moved, and it was resolved, that all local members of Parliament should be ox-officio members of the committee.