OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 17062, 5 June 1919, Page 9

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

The annual meeting of the above league was held last evening. Mr Charles Todd (president) occupying the chair. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report, said that they were now happily at the end of war troubles, and he thought by the renewed interest being taken in the league thoy would be able in the near futuie to Jo a great deal of good for Dunedin and the province of Otago. Now that the war was over it was the intention of the lea true to appoint an organiser to stir up interest in file country districts. There ivere many questions calling for redress in Otaao, and ho thought that the league had shown that they justified their existence-. That day a had waited on tho Bon. Mr MucDonald urging the rsjhab ishment of experimental farms. He (the speaker) thought that it was up to the Agricultural Department to give them an experimental farm in the dry area of Otago. The Minister pointed out that the North Island farmers were doing a great deal for themselves, and even went so far as to twit the South Island people with not doing much for themselves. Mr MaeDonald did not tell the deputation that these experimental farms in the North Island were established by direct grants of public money. He was jarefnl to tell them that an experimental farm had been established by the Stratford people, who had found half the money. Why did ha not tell them that the reason the farmers there had found half the money was because another experimental farm was in existence a short distance away? With regald to afforestation, the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie promised definitely that at least eix plantations would be laid out on the Westcott Settlement; but nothing had been done. If planting was to be done thi* year ploughing should have been commenced two months ago. If they did not pupil things alone here they would soon be left in tho cold. Ministers promised all sorts of tilings, but they got nothing at all here. A big thing now in hand was the hydro-electric scheme. With due deference to the City Council who considered that Waiuori was the only scheme, he thought that the Hawea-Waranka scheme -would prove the biggest and j would produce more power than could be I got in any other part of New Zealand. : In regard to the financial part of the learned he thought that local bodies could ' support them better than they had done in the past. Mr S. B. Macdonald seconded the motion, and mentioned that since the Otago League came into existence similar leagues had been formed in the north and also in ; the south. He regretted that the league i were not receiving the support they should from the City Council. The Hon. G. M. Tliom?on expressed the hope that the league would push on the hydTO-electnc scheme. The motion was carried.

The following office-bearers were elected :—President, Mr Charles Todd (re elected) ; vice-presidents—Messrs P. K. Siirgood, J. InpMs Wright, the Hon. G. M. Thomson, and the Mayor; hon. treasurer, Mr H. E. Wilson ; auditors, Messrs Barr, Leary, and Co. ; executive—Messrs H. B. Wilson, H. K. Wilkinson, B. B. Hooper, J. Blair Mason. R. D. Poison, William Black, J. Rhodes, -E. Tamblyn, S. B. Macdonald, J. Loudon. C. E. Statham, M.P., James Begg, C. P. M. Butterwortli, T. K. Sidey, M.P., and E. Anscomba. The followinc committees were elected : —Countrv Development Committee—Messrs Crosby Morris, F. G. Duncan, G. ML Marshall," E. Tamblvn, Isaacs Green, E. E. Clowes. R. T. Stewart, D. Tannoek, Chas. Todd, E W. Knidit, lion. G. M. Thomson, J. London ; Trades and Industies Committee—Messrs E. Anscombe,J. Wilson. M. C. Henderson, J. Rhodes, J. Blair Mason, Dr J. H. K. Inglis, J. Loudon, J. T. Johnson, and T. G. Turner ; Educational Committee —Messrs S. B. Macdonald (chairman), E. Tamblyn, W. Eudey, C. E. Statham, M.P. ; Publicity Committee—Messrs J. Inglia Wright" (chairman), E. Ariscombe, James Dick, K. Edge, J. G. Moody, and J. Rhodes.

Mr G. Fenwck (ex-vice-president) was appointed a life member of the league. On the motion of the president, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Steel for his work in the position of acting secretary.