TO BRIDGE THE GAP

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 13

TO BRIDGE THE GAP

NELSON PROGRESS LEAGUE

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE

(FROM OUR OWM CORHESPOXDENT.)

NELSON, 21st May.

A meeting of the executive of the Nelson Provincial Progress League was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. W. J. Moffatt (president), H. Everett (chairman Motueka Harbour Board), Councillor J. Cordor (Waimea County Council), A. Gould (president of Chamber of Commerce), and F. G. Gibbg (Chamber of Commerce), D. W. Talbot (Mayor of Motueka), W. Lock (Mayor of Nelson), and Mr. F. I Ledger. Apologies for absence -ivera received trom Messrs. P. Best, H. R, Duncan, A. Gilbert, G. Kidd, and Dr. Gibbs.

The secretaiy, Mr. E. R. Neale, read correspondence from the Canterbury Lea,gue giving information regarding steps being taken by Canterbury to inako a display at the Dunedin Exhibition, stating that the estimated expenditure would be £16000.

The president reported having recently paid a visit to the Exhibition Buildings, and interviewed both the contractor and the Exhibition secretary. He had outlined the Nelson proposal to the contractor, and, in addition to the projected pictorial lounge, had stated that there was an idea to exhibit provincial products in miniature if possible. He estimated the cost of the stage required and other costs at £400 to £500, and strongly urged that Nelson should make a^ provincial exhibit. Speaking aa a City Councillor, ho was prepared to vote, for the £150 promised being given unconditionally; he would be willing to increase that amount to £200.

It. was stated that it had not Been definitely decided to make a display, and at the present time in addition to the £150 promised conditionally by the City Council only £S5 had been promised by local bodies unconditionally. Mr. Lock said the league was' faced with two difficulties—finance and lack of support from private firms. Nelson certainly should be represented, but unless a worthy display could be made it -would be better to leave it alone altogether. The Cawthron Institute was inclined to exhibit in the Education Department's display. In. his opinion their exhibit should ba included in the Nelson Court. Mr Everett said the majority of the Oawthron trustees favoured exhibiting with the Education Department, as tho work done by the institute was for the whole Dominion, but they were quite willing to make an auxiliary display to assist tho Nelson Court. Mr. Corder was of opinion that tho whole matter was a question of finance. Unless a good display could be made it would be better to accept the -Tourist departments offer to incorporate Nelson's exhibit. . . ■; .

Mr. Gibbs said it -would be disgraceful if Nelson was not properly represented. Local bodies should be made to realise that it was a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence. He was op-posed to a public canvass, as the league -was the body which ahould carry ouf the matter.

LITTLE SUPPORT FROM BTJSI. NESS PEOPLE.

Sir. Gould said he found little support could be obtained from the business people. He suggested that the local bodies should be asked to strike a special rate, as the expense should' be met by the people as a whole, and not by a few that the Mayor ahould call a public meeting to consider the matter. Mr. Talbot said Motueka Borough was willing to assist as far as it could. Other I i} 0?™ T hl, eh had not contributed should be asked to do so, and those bodies which had promisedl to contribute should be asked to increase their contributions.

Mr. Neale said even if the local bodies who had promised assistance increased their amounts it was doubtful if sufficient would be rawed. As a City Councillor, he-would be prepared to increase the council's contribution to £200. Mr. Everett said no move could be made under £500, and he did not think they would get it. -, The_ president thought an urgent ai> peal snould be made to Takaka tnd Collingwood.. ,Tho matter was a provincial one. .

Mr Gibbs moved that a special f na l appeal bo made to local bodies with a view to raising £500, and that they be informed that unless this was forthcoming tne matter would be dropped This rled Beconded fey Mr- Ta.'l>ot and car-

The Wellington Show Association askth J^ t lect U9 inl6"ded exhibiting at -the -Winter Show. The matter wasdeferrod for consideration t Jf h° Mlf Stel °\ Railways wrote stating that as the Railway Department's finances are a present fully taxed In under, taking works of an absolutely essential nature, he regretted no funds were availstnff™ CTh a veraDdah the railway station platform as requested by the league. It was resolved that an eattaate ;Hcat eiorm a d ce PrOCUrCd'andanothe-P----statang that the Nelsoa .Government Build ngs are on the list of those for consideration when re-erection proposes are under review. It was resolved to send a re.ply to the effect that the struc turei be repaired and painted. t,7 > t A S°£ f ei? ey Beers' Association stated that the association favoured delivering cattle provided the Govern ment made it compulsory The secretary Otago Expansion League asked to be supplied with all literature, etc., supporting Nelson's claims to railway extension with the West Coast aa promised by the Nelson delegate at tS recent conference of South Island ProIsthApnF 63 heU at In™S"l 0" The president BUted that, aE requested by the league he had attended the conference, and then gave a full report of the proceedings. He explained that in connection with the Marlborough and ■ iNelson claims for railway extension the conference, after hearing the Marlborough and .Nelson cfclegates. decided not ta express an opinion on the merits of either rout* pending the receipt' of the Canterbury League's Investigation Committees report. The conference, however, had allowed him to move a resolution . approving of tho expressed intention of the Minister of Public Works to complete the railway to Murchison. Mr. Climie the Canterbury League's secretary had previously intimated to him that ho would assist him in this, and had done so.

On the motion of Messrs. Gibbs'and boiild, a resolution of thanks to Mr Moffatt for his work at the conferenco was earned.

A -general discussion took place on the Canterbury League's report, and a motion was carried that information concerning the West Coast route should be obtained and forwarded to the Otaqo and Southland Leagues.

„.. , 22nd May. At the Progress League on Wednesday, alter the secretary had read the report ot the- committee'of the Canterbury League dsalin? with ths East and West Oo&et Bailw^sj yfckh asged Hut

linking up of the Wharenul-Parnassu* I' a?r d only {avowed the completion of the Nelson line as far as Muichison, a general discussion ensued. Mr H. Everett asked what tho attitude of the Nelson League was. He was not in favour of barring the future of the East Coast line solely for the Glonhope line. He favoured _ both lines being constructed. The point before the meeting was: If Canterbury people were honest—and ho presumed they were as honest as the Nelson people were—why should we demur if we wero getting what we asked for?

Mr. Gibbs said that in 1921 the Canterbury League sent round a very able committee, who went into tlie question thoroughly as to which of the routes should bo supported, and unless he waß very much mistaken their report undoubtedly advocated Nelson's claims very strongly for the completion of the gap. The report obviously waa not palatable, to the majority of the Canterbury Progress League, and after a decent interval another committee was sent round to go over the same ground again and take the same evidence—because the position" of affairs had not altered in the meantime—and presented a more palatabls report to the Canterbury League. The report showed the difficulty of estimating what the traffic would be, and yet it proceeded to find fault with both Marlborough and Nelson people for not being able to produce more figures. The greatest care was taken to put the Nelson ngnres on a thoroughly conservative basis. With regard to Murchison, it was quite trus that they had reason to b© thankful that the Canterbury Laagus were prepared to support Nelson to secure the early completion of the line from Kawatiri. Ths case made by Nelson for filling the gap had not been weakened in the slightest by the report. They had no objection to the Marlborough line receiving attention in its proper place, but considered their line should receive first, consideration from tho Government. Mr. Led,ger considered that the committee had made too much of the ferry train service across the Strait, ami that an expert report should be procured as to. the possibilities. Mr. Talbot criticised several matters mentioned in. the report, and asked if the Nelson Leagua was not exercising its mind too much over the report.

A motion that the information concerning the West Coast route should be obtained and forwarded to the Otago and Southland Leagues was carried, the matter being left in the hands of Meserß. Gibbs, Ledger, the chairman, and secretary.