EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 21220, 29 September 1932, Page 2

EXPANSION LEAGUE

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League was held on Tuesday evening, Mr G. ,1. Errington presiding. The other members present were Messrs James Horn, R. S. Black, .1. Finlayson, R. Ellis, G. ,V. B. Ferine, G. Newer, H. M. Mackay, R. S. Crawford, and W. .1. Bardsley. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs E. Tamblyu, T. Harridge, H. M'Dowell Smith, W. S. Culbert, and J. Inglis Wright. The arrangements for the visit of a party of the executive to the Lake District were advanced, and the members who will he available notified of the tentative plans, which will be finalised in the course of a few days. The visit will include Makarora and the Haast Saddle, where members are promised a peep at “ the Promised Land beyond the ranges.” Opportunity will also be given to the part}’ to inspect the sites of the proposed barrages on Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, which will shut off the water from the Clutha River and so enable the ardent gold seekers to stream the gravel for the precious ore.

In connection with the pre-sossiona! meeting with the local members of Parliament the Secretary reported that he had been misinformed as to Mr A. E. Ansell’s whereabouts, and had not forwarded him an invitation. On ascertaining the facts a letter had been sent containing an explanation and apology, which Mr Ansell courteously accepted. Regret was expressed by the executive that such a' slip had occurred, and members were gratified in being able to exonerate Mr Ansell from any accusation of lack of courtesy or attention to the needs of his constituents. The President reported that the Association of Commercial Science, in the inception of which the league had taken a keen interest, had recently held its first annual meeting, and the report and balance-sheet submitted indicated a very successful opening year. The annual examinations under the auspices of the ssociation would be held about tho middle of November, and it was probable that the number of entrants this year would greatly exceed the students of the initiatory series. The Associated Chambers of Commerce were at present considering the holding of partial examinations in some centres with those of the association, and so make a dominion-wide movement for the assistance of students entering commercial life.

Tho subject of the suggested Queenstown holiday excursion at Labour week-end was again considered in the light of a report from the Railways Department on the difficulties to bo faced in putting on such a trip this year. While acknowledging that the late start from Dunedin and the still later arrival of the return train militated against the popularity of the excursion, the executive believed that earlier starts could bo arranged, and hoped that tho department would next year make an earlier commencement with the project, and organise a tempting three days’ trip, beneficial alike to Queenstown, the railways, and the people of Dunedin. It was reported that an effort would be made to run an excursion train from Invercargill this holiday under the conditions proposed for Dunedin, and if this proved successful it should materially assist in stimulating an extension of the privilege.

A communication from M. Artur Conritl, of Zagreb, Jngo-Slavia, Europe, was read. Tin's missive annouiieod that the citizens of that city would shortly hold “ an international exhibition of views of cities.” and requested that views of Dunedin and its surroundings might be forwarded. Mr R. S. Black said that 11 it was comforting to learn that Dunedin was known even in that far-away place, but he doubted if many people in Dunedin knew about Zagreb.- ’ Arrangements were to be made to forward a parcel of photographs, booklets, and general information to M. (,'onrid.—The President said that, thanks to the courtesy of Mr George Chance, he had been promised the loan of several of the most effective photographs, and these would be included in the league parcel.—A vote of thanks to Mr Chance was unanimously registered. The burning question of the retention of the Training College was again referred to, and the executive resolved that it would support tire agitation being conducted by the Education Board by every moans in its power, and especially desired to assure the board that tlie sympathy of the province was behind it. and to push forward the agitation with redoubled fervour.