PROGRESS LEAGUE

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1927, Page 5

PROGRESS LEAGUE

S.I. CONFERENCE. Yesterday’s Proeedings. (Per Press Assn.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. To-day at 10.50 the South Island Progress Leagues Conference opened in the Leagues represented and their delegates Chamber of Commerce Hall. The are:— Southland League—Messrs Hinchey, Alexander, Dick, and another. Otago Expansion League—Messrs Macdonald, Tamblyn, and Steel. Canterbury Progress League—Messrs Strachan. G. M. Hall, Flesher, McAlpine, and Climie. Westland Committee —Dr Teichelmann and Mr Morris. Nelson Provincial Progress League— Mr Moffatt. Marlborough Progress League — Messrs Goulter and Churchward. Buller Progress League. South Marlborough Progress League —Messrs Harle, Parsons, and Scott. Grey Progress League—Messrs Greenslade and Randle. To-morrow the delegates visit Akaroa and on Thursday they go to Lake Coleridge. ROADING REFORM. JUSTICE FOR SOUTH ISLAND. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. At the South Island Progress Leagues’ Conference to-day, Mr J. A. Flesher (Canterbury) moved: “That in the opinion of this conference, the apportionment between the North and South Islands of the expenditure from the revenue fund of the Main Highways Board should be proportionate to the number of motor vehicles registered in each island, and the Act should be amended, making it mandatory on the Board to apportion the moneys accordingly.” He said the object of the remit was to prevent the Board from taking money from the South Island and spending it on roads in the North. This remit was carried.

An Otago remit, that a policy for the standardised construction or reconstruction of the main highways be evolved, and that a special road loan be raised to carry such construction and re-construction into effect, the interest on such loan to be guaranteed from motor taxation, and to bear not less than three per cent, sinking fund. The remit was carried. DECISION OF CONFERENCE. PETROL TAX FOR ROADS. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. The South Island Progress League’s Conference decided to-day to request the Government that the tyre tax and . the annual motor-car tax be abolished, and that a tax on motor spirit be imposed. The mover of this remit, Mr S. B. MacDonald, of Otago, said the present road tax and tyre tax were inequitable, especially to the farmer who used his car only occasionally, and who, therefore, got little value for the road tax. In the same way his tyres never wore out, but rotted off. A petrol tax of 3d per gallon would return £560,220 per annum, whereas last year the tyre tax had yielded £140,534, and the motor-car tax £228,000. In a subsequent discussion, it was suggested that means were required of granting exemptions to fishermen using motor launches, to farmers using tractors and milking plants, and to others using petrol for stationary power plants. The remit was carried. RIVAL RAILWAY ROUTES. EAST OR WEST COAST? CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. The annual controversy over the respective merits of the West and East Coast railway routes led td a three hours’ discussion at the Conference of the South Island Progress Leagues to-day. Mr R. F. Goulter (Marlborough) moved: “That this Conference emphasises the importance of completing the New Zealand Main Trunk Railway in the South Island between Parnassus and Wharanui, and that, in the meantime, the survey of this gap be accelerated. ’

The remit was supported by the Marlborough delegates, but it was opposed strongly by the Nelson delegates, who urged the completion of the West Coast gap. The Chairman suggested that the alternative proposals be discussed in committee, and this was done for two hours. The Marlborough remit was then carried. The following Nelson remit was confirmed: “That the railway from Stanhope to Murchison be completed as speedily as possible.”