EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 21077, 14 April 1932, Page 14

EXPANSION LEAGUE

EXECUTIVE MEETING Tho monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League was held on Tuesday evening. Mr G. J. Errington (president) occupied the chair. The President reported that the effort to establish a shipping service between the South Island and Australia was now taking definite shape, and he was pleased to inform members that the organiser of the company had reported to him that the shares were being taken up freely. The president said that the league had supported, this movement from its inception. Ho felt convinced that the efforts of the promoters would be crowned with success, and that a great boon to the city and the provinces would accrue from the establishment of the service.

Mr Errington also reported that, in answer to an invitation from the mayor, he had attended a preliminary meeting in connection with the “ Back to Dunedin Week ” project. He had been selected as one of the members of the Executive Committee, and was pleased to state that everything was being pub in train. The secretary of the league had been appointed convener of the Publicity Committee, which was endeavouring to foster and extend the idea that “ Back to Dunedin Week ” would be a milestone in the progress # of the year and a factor in improving business conditions generally. Correspondence in connection with the question of the Post Office building was received from Sir Charles Statham. The view was again expressed that a united protest should be made in regard to this matter, and in that connection members asked if any reply had been received from the mayor in connection with a public meeting which it had been suggested he should call. The president reported that the mayor was in sympathy with any movement that would bring about the desired result, but owing to pressure of other business had been unable to atten ’. to it. He felt sure, however, that in the near future the matter would receive Mr Black’s earnest attention.

The question of tho control and utilisation of the various reserves on Mount Cargill, Flagstaff, and Signal Hill, which had been under consideration at various times during the past year by the leagiie, was agam brought up by the receipt of a letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands notifying that, as a result of the inquiry held, the department had decided to vest these reserves in the City Council under certain conditions which were specified. The execiftive expressed pleasure at the result of the negotiations, and instructed the secretary to get in touch with the Reserves Committee and ascertain exactly what steps had been taken in connection with the resumption of the lands, and to report at the next meeting. The Director of Town Planning wrote in connection with the definition of the boundaries of the regional districts in which Otago is interested. He stated that no further steps had been taken in regard to holding an inquiry on the delineation of the boundary of Otago and Southland, but the league would be duly notified when a decision was arrived at.

Correspondence in connection with the Hawea power and electric supply project was received and considered. The engineers who have undertaken to report on the matter were asked for certain information which was not available from the source to which application had been made, and the secretary was instructed to get in touch with the interested parties and ascertain if the information could be procured for them. The matter was left in his hands to deal with.

In reply to an invitation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association, it was resolved that the league be again represented in the commemoration services on April 24.