PROGRESS LEAGUE FORMED

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1944, Page 3

PROGRESS LEAGUE FORMED

Interests of Grey District

MEETING AT GREYMOUTH. The formation of Progress League to concern itself with the interests of Greymouth and the Grey district was decided on at a meeting held in the Lyceum Hall last evening, and an interim committee to prepare a constitution and rules was set up and is to report back to a further meeting to be call* ed within one month. Well over 100 persons were present at the meeting and apologies were received from a number unable to -be preTlie Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) who had called the meeting, presided, and with him on the platform were the Mayor of Runanga (Mr E. W Mr W. D. Taylor, Mr J.’ B. Kent, Mr J. M. Bunt, Mr W. E. J l . Steer and Mr E. Parfitt. who acted as secretary. . - The Mayor expressed appreciation of the large attendance. The idea of a Progress League, he said, went back a long way. For many years a Chamber of Commerce had done the kind of work which a Progress League was accustomed to do, but the chamber had fallen on evil days and an attempt to revive it had been dropped when Japan entered the war. However, the matter had recently been discussed at a meeting of the Rotary Club and it was decided that it was in the best interests of the district that a Progress League should be . formed. Ultimately a request had been made that he should call a meeting. The Rotary Club, he said, was non-political and non-sectarian and would under no circumstances exercise any control over the proposed Progress League. It was hoped to include the . Grey County and the boroughs within the scope of the League. The Mayor went on to refer to the work done by the timber committee set up by the conference on post-war industry and rehabilitation. ' Local bodies, he said, were doing work that was more properly that of a Progress League. As a result of the committee’s activities it looked as if timber cutting and sawing would now have an unending life, and what it had done others could do in other directions. Referring to the conference of South Island local bodies held in Christchurch last year, the Mayor said he had come to the conclusion that each district was going to endeavour to have the decentralisation of industry carried out for its own benefit. Whatever industries were developed on the Coast would depend on the efforts of peonle here., These considerations indicated - tbjat the time was ripe for the formation of a Progress League. At the invitation of the Mavor, Mr W. D. Taylor then moved: “That this meeting, ’ realising the necessity for the establishment of a ProgressLeague for the benefit of the community of Greymouth and the Grey district, resolves that a committee be set up to prepare the constitution and rules of an organisation along the lines of a Progress League and submit the same to a . further meeting to be called within one month, and that the area to be covered by the operations of the said organisation be the Boroughs of Greymouth. Runanga and Brunner, the Grey County, plus the territory up to the Reefton Saddle and out to Punakaiki.”

Mr Taylor said that the functions of a chamber of commerce or a businessmen’s .association, which had previously existed, were much narrower than those of a Progress League, which was concerned with both the business and social welfare of the community. It was impossible ordinarily for everyone to express opinions on matters of ■public-inter-est, but the League provided an opportunity for that and for pressing for such reforms and improvements as the public thought necessary. There was no organisation at present to cress the needs of the district and to see that it got a fair share of Government expenditure in return for the vast sum that went out of the district, to see that there were adequate facilities for sport, entertainment, reci'eation and education, none concerned with the replacement of diminishing industries and (with the exception of local bodies) with the general welfare of the community in the area concerned. The most vital question was that of the Grey Harbour, and there was no doubt that the Harbour Board would be glad to get any support it could for a Progress League. Tied up with that was the question of re-afforestation, and he asked what had been returned to the area in return for the vast royalties taken out. Other questions were the provision of a new railway station, farming and farm labour. the construction of a satisfactory .aerodrome, and the establishment of a youth centre where young people could spend some of their spare time in suitable conditions and under suitable suoervision. Again, said Mr Taylor, the conditions under which the police worked were frankly shocking: and having regard to improved social conditions the Black Hole of Calcutta was a palace compared with the cells at the police station. It was a dis°race that any man, guiltv or innocent, should have to be held there. It was said that there was no labour, but apparently there was labour to remove the towers from post offices throughout New Zealand. The old manual telephone system became harassing at times, the speaker went on, but unless someone moved in the matter Greymouth would be left behind other towns in the provision of an .automatic system The postal and railway services could also do with improvement, and it was desirable that there should be three rail-cars daily, each way between Greymouth and Christchurch, with the elimination of the steam service except for holiday time. Difficulties ienoounltared in the setting up on new industries could also be dealt with by the League. They did not want to adverse! v criticise local bodies—they wanted to help wherever possible; and he paid a tribute to. those who gave their time serving on such bodies. The foundation stone of the League was that it should be. nonpolitical and co-operation Was its essence. If it was formed he begged those ioining it to leave out all questions of political differences. He suggested that the membership should consist of local bodies, of firms and persons in business paying a subscription of £1 Is, and of private individuals paying a subscription of 5s He recalled that some years ago a Progress League had functioned for a time. If the organisation which it was now proposed to form died because of inertia it would be a slur on the district. It was up to the people to give it every support while it was young so that it would be strong and virile m adult life. , , The motion was seconded by Mr .T B. Kent, who said he thought the League would strengthen the local bodies in their dealings with the Government. Referring to the harbour he said that if they did not have transport whatever industries they had would not be a success Cheap power and transport would bring industries. He paid a tribute to the work of the Progress League which had previously existed. I here were any amount of organisations at th n back of projects, he said, but so far back that they were no good so far as pushing was concerned. IHe was sure that an organisation Hatch as it was proposed to form would make for the progress of CrAvrnnuth and district. >G Mr Frank Bird refers to the

importance of gold mining. The West Coast produced gold worth one million pounds a year, he said, and of this the Government took £220,000, £160,000 went in wages, £65,000 for electric power, £15,000 in rates and goldfields revenue, £105,000 in replacement and engineering, and another £60,000 on miscellaneous items such as insurance and additional requirements. Six hundred men were directly or indirectly employed by the industry, which supported more than . 2000 women and children. The Government should be forced to return some of that huge amount in some such work as clearing the land, 'starting some industries, or carrying out essential works. Mr F. F. Boustridge sain that the greatest asset the West Coast had was its scenery and the development of that asset should be one of the main planks of the Progress League’s platform. Mr F. L. Turley said that the timber industry employed 975 persons, thought there had been up to 1400 a few years ago. He referred to the need for industries associated with sawmilling such as butter box making, which could employ something like 400 persons, and the drying and processing of red pine. The industry would last for a long time yet—as far as Wataroa it would be good for 30 or 40 years. He hoped interest in the League would be maintained. Mr H. Hutchinson said that so far as coal mining w,as concerned something could be done by urging the prospecting of further fields and watching and spurring on the boring programme. There was also .a great opportunity for a briquetting plant. Mr J. B. Bluett suggested the formation of a “work pile,” as in the United States —if anyone had any- 1 thing they wanted doing, they could propose it as a work, to the League. He also suggested that the League should have a paid secretary, and that the accent should be on youth or near youth. Local body men should be left off the ’ committee and others given a chance to do something.

Mr D. Barnes said he thought the 'greatest work was the rehabilitation of returned men .and women. The officers of the League should give an occasional account of their stewardship. At this stage the resolution was put and carried unanimously. The following interim committee was elected: Messrs W. D. Ta.vlor, J. M. Bunt, W. E. J. Steer, T. Pratt, J. B. Bluett, F. Bird, W. S. McClymonfi and W. R. Millier.

Mr. P. O’Farrell disagreed with the sugestion that only young men should be elected. Men should be elected .according to their qualifications irrespective of other considerations, he said.

A suggestion of Mr M. R. Aldridge that the committee should consist of the chairmen of a number of subcommittes dealing with various subjects was criticised by Mr D. Barnes who said that members might tend to selfishness if they represented a special interest. Mr Bunt explained that one of the ideas of the sponsors of the League had been a number of sub-commit-tees embracing, if possible, every member of the League, with the chairmen forming the executive committee.

Mr A. N. Campbell, District Rehabilitation Officer, said that because of' the shortage of work locally he had had to send men to Christchurch to find .jobs. He hoped something could be done to provide work for such men. Replying to Mr D. Mclvor, who asked how 1 this position squared with the statements of .a shortage of labour at the mines, Mr Campbell said that the men concerned were fit only for light work which was not available locally. Mr J. Saunders said that the Sawmillers’ Association had been advised by the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) that the question of re-afforestation was in train. This work might appeal to many returned men.

Mr J. Luff spoke of the need for labour on Scheme 13 at Runanga. Mr J‘. Scott said' that returned men should be given work as- good if not better than that which had before they went away. A similar view was expressed by Mr G. R. Harker.

Mr B. W. Caulton referred to the need for playing areas for young children.

Mr S. McAra asked why the works which were now being suggested had not been done by local bodies in the past. Closing the meeting, the Mayor said that with such a start the League should flourish but it would depend on the work of members and the executive committee. The Mayor was thanked for caning the . meeting and presiding on the motion of Mr Kent.