EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 21130, 16 June 1932, Page 14

EXPANSION LEAGUE

EXECUTIVE MEETING The monthly meeting of tho Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League was held on Tuesday evening. Mr G. J. Errington presiding. A letter was received from Sir CharmBtatham regarding an interview vvith the Prime Minister on the subject of the Post Office, and the effort to be made towards rendering the site safer and less unsightly. Members considered that the better method would be to proceed with the building, which would obviate further useless expense, ami make tlio site not only safe and sightly, but useful. Further correspondence from tnc Waraaka Progress League iu connection with the Hawea River power and irrigation scheme was received, and the position considered. ft was decided that efforts should ho made to secure certain statistical and engineering data to enable a concise report to be made on the project. J , The President reported that be had attended on behalf of the league a meeting of protest called by the Otago education Board against the decision of the Education Department to close the Training College in Dunedin, It was pointed out that the plea of economy on which the decision was based had been proved futile, and the Munster when challenged, had not yet substantinted the claim, nor had he attempted to refute the facts and figures put forward by the previous deputation, of which he (the president) had been a member. The report was received and the president thanked for his services, the executive resolving to support the board bv every means in his power. Mr J. Stephens, the inventor of the Stephens hydraulic pump, was present by invitation, and at the suggestion of tiie president he explained to the members the principle on which his pump worked, the results obtained by experiments locally and tho great possibilities of its use for land draining and mining purposes. Keeu interest vns evoked by this description, and Mr Stephens answered many questions regarding its economical application to various problems in Otago. The President reported on flic success of the “ Come to Dunedin ” Week scheme, in which he and the secretary of tho league had been actively engaged. The experience gained, he said, would be of great service when another carnival was* being conducted, and a more successful one would be arranged if it was decided to make another attempt. The spirit of helpfulness and service developed by such civic activities was an asset to' tho community over and above the financial aid given to a most deserving object. Reference was made by members to the good news regarding the hill reserves which had now finally been vested in tho City Council, and the speaker congratulated the City Council upon its widened estate, and the league upon the ' success which had attended its efforts It was recalled that an impasse had been reached, and the city authorities, practically disheartened by tho opposition, were dropping out of the whole scheme. The league's action through tho Lands and Forestry Department brought about a fresh movement, and a conference of all interested parties was arranged, the result of that conference being eminently satisfactory. It was stated that, the value of these reserves to the city would become greater as the years went by, and planting operations could be looked for in tho near future.