PROGRESS LEAGUES CONFER

Evening Star, Issue 19856, 3 May 1928, Page 10

PROGRESS LEAGUES CONFER

SOUTH ISLAND AFFAIRS s [Pan Ustteo Press Assocutiok.] WESTPORT, Ma v 2The conference of South Island Progress Leagues was held to-day. Air P. G. Strothers (president of tho Westport Progress League) presided. rtu visiting delegates ivero officially wclromui by the mayor (Air J. H. Harkness). Air W. B. Steel (Dunedin) replying on their behalf. Thirty-tivo remits were considered. Most of them were carried, a few withdrawn, and others were lost. Amongst those carried were remits urging tho speedy completion of the railway southward from Nelson and Mariboiough, reading to provide better access to the Marina Springs, the curative properties of which are not'generally known, owing to the isolation of tlio spiings, and also asking the Government to declare a scenic reserve the area from the springs through Cannibal Gorge to tho Lewis Saddle; urging better publicity for the South Island; tho construction of a railway from east to west via the Lewis Saddle; the more speedy prosecution of tb#Bolder Gorge railway; urging the necessity of bridges on the main highways on the West Coast, so as to bring the district into lino with others for motor traffic; asking the Government to assist in having the pre-w'ar South Island coastal and Australian shipping services reinstated; to have the policy standardised in respect to the construction of tho main highways, a special loan to be raised for the purpose; allocation of the petrol tax on the basis of the amount of petrol used in each island; a vigorous afforestation policy to be adopted to combat seasonal unemployment; asking the Government to consider the apparent studied neglect of the South Island, especially in regard to distinguished visitors; urging the Government to give more attention to Westport Harbour as a national port, so as to allow coal and other natural products of the Buller to be more fully utilised; and asking the Government to have tho Westport-Greymouth coastal road speedily completed. To-night the delegates are the guests of the local league at dinner, and tomorrow they win he taken motor trips to outstanding places in the district. The next conference will be held in Blenheim, which heat Nelson for the honour on tho toss of a coin.