S.M. PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XLV, Issue 73, 11 September 1925, Page 2

S.M. PROGRESS LEAGUE.

THE KAILWAY DEPUTATION. Tiie monthly meeting of Ih< South Al a rlborout'.h Prop-res.; League took p;a‘-< at the Public Library on Saturday ‘if tcrnoun. Air T. Ilario (President) presiding. Those present v.ere: Alessrs I’. Acton-Adams, E. C. Latter, IL Snushall, W. Scott, G. E. Pai air, . I .

Clarb:. R. T. Pop • 'S, . rotary ). ami iht Rev. C ,K Saunders. The Alain Highways Hoard notified that tiie Jlapukii approach was to lie proceeded with. The .Public Works Department d.r .tv advising that the Charwell Bridge wa.* receiving attention, and that an ordvi for the* timber would be placed at an early date. Mr Snushall moved that the .Minister be written to urging on him the necessity of completing the bridge before next winter. s' concled by Air I*. Acton-Adams, ami cariied. THE NORTH ROAD. In reply to the League’s letter, llu District Engineer (Mr Laugh.in) a.' vised that lie would be travelling over the road shortly, and if it was considered that its condition was as state by the League, steps will be taken to see, that the Kaikoura County Coun.ii maintain the road in belter condition. The President said the road had now

been put in order, and in fairness io the Council, the Engineer should be advised to this ciTevt. r I’a i sons said the' road bad r improved a lot, but, taking the roads throughout Kaikoura, they were at least a disgrace to the ru-i 1. A few years ago Kaikoura was credited with having the best of roa ■ . , the North Road had been improved out of sight. Mr Scott moved that the Engineer be advised that the read had been put in order. Seconded by Mr Snushall and carried. MEANS OF TRANSPORT. The Secretary of the Marlborough Coast branch of the ?.’.Z. Farmers' I nion, wrote drawing attention to the question of transport to Parnassus as regards goods and stock, and asked that lite League consider ihe .matter with a view to improving the means of trausThe President said that no in forma lion had come to hand regarding ir; l asport of wool ami stock for the coming season, although, he understood, ihe Railway Department was considering the question of woo] transportation. Mr Scott considered that steps should bo taken to provide lor the transportation of fat stork, nt more liberal rates. The President moved that the League communicate with the Railway Commercial Agent i.garding Ihe matter. The motion was carried unanimously. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. The President reported regarding Jo S >uih Isi: ml M ;in Trunk Raih ay ■’ potation. lie said he and the Vice-Pre-sidents of lh<- I vague had attended deputation. J:<- considered that more information should have been supplied iu the League respecting matters to be brought before the Prime Minister. The delegates had had to fossick out infer mation, ami had discovered that the aims of the deputation had been boiled down to asking for a survey. The Kaikoura delegate- did not know what request was to be made. The deputation is one of the strongest that had waited on the Government. The West Coast had given support to the gap, and ihe H mtlj Island members of Parliament generally supported the propo al. Thor: were sixty or seventy delegates, of a most representative . harnfler. He ha< boon surprised when the deputation -.nlv requested a survey, ami was keenly disappointed. He was informed that ;h. i had never been a complete aurvev made. Iheroforc :> survey was verv mxessar'j What Marlborough required was a pro nouncement ; • yir ling the importance • I the South b: ml Main Trunk Line, ami ho was? not satisfied with the manm r in whbh tee <l:ii;a ha<l been mde. It vw.s done in an apologetic manner. They did m>t seek fa v i urs- -■ h y were justice only. The Primo .Minister’s reph had been disappointing, ami was not what might have been expected from a Crime Minister. The details . upplied bv Marlborough and Canterbury had not been considered. Passenger traffic had been eomidered, but ?. was impossible to say how many people would travel by rail in pn feronce to sea. There could I s no doubt that with a fast railway and a quick ferry, there would be a ! ' wof pas-eager irafii . position was that there were 1 11 .mile.-- < f Government railway line L ading io ' •'•‘id ends. Private companies were < arrying passengers from the route, also good;-!. If the ga pwere filled up and a suitable ferry service inaugurated, there would be a large traffic. That was his opinion. A sirung point was made of Ihe Raihx ay < Commission report of the highest experience, who locked upon the filling of the gaps the most important point in connection with the I urged the ompletion of the line as in the best interests ci‘ the Dominion. Mr Coates says he will not be bound by the Commission’.', report—he wanted figures and data. This p it the position in the light that Air ( ' ’■'• ec r< H< d niore on his own officeis nnd. hi in pre! orence to the exports on the Commission, which was an insult to the memb 'i's ii!' Ihe (.'ommission, lb g; i "eg lan settlement, on the route. Mr Coates did nit think there ould be an appreciable increase. Mr Marie conlemled that there was much good land on the route, ! ’’ 1 ■ ith bet; er a ilitii,- for ■ ranspoi ■ of stock and product', more settlers would be attracted. There was a great /I'-al of land besides the (Marem.*.Capable of closer setflenumt, and with »<•!- i ' tion v No sii'h searching enquiry had been riade in re.-pect to other railway constriction, especially in to the North Island Jim's. Why had Marlborough been singled out to provo that the railvvay would prove' a profitable proposition? Yet Mr Coates asked for more , figures and proof that the line would be revenue producing. Too much stress was laid on revenue production. Roads were not considered from such a point of view, and why should railway’s be expected to produce revenue from the outset? Mr Haulid hex as convincc<l that Marlborough would get ihe line, ami he felt sure that a vole would be placed on the Estimates within twelve months. The Kaikoura A. and I’. Asbo-

ialion had the credit of first moving n connection with this important matter, since then it had gained wide support. They must stick to the matter, and leave no stone unturned until the railway was put in hand. J.lr Hnushall said the President had put the case very fully before members of the League, ami he could only endorse the remarks of Mr Ilario. In the •nterests ot the Dominion the line was most important. Mr Coates appeared to be the main obstacle, and was apparently hostile to the line, lie thought authorisation should have been asked

Mr Parsons said the President had put the matter fairly before the members. The deputation had only asked for a survey, which was granted. He felt nr;* that once the survey was completed • large grant would be voted, and the line would be pushed through. It meant a lot to Marlborough, stock which now realised only 20/ would bring 30/. He jri h aght the deputation had served n • good purpose, and that good would come of it. i Mr T. Adair said a survey had been made for a large' part of the line, and surely the line could have been pushed on Io the Clarence. .If the Government would not undertake the work they had bettor let the work be done by public subscription. The line had been laid, and ballasting work done at both end. Ir Parsons: The rails from Mendip to Parnassus had been pulled up and sent to Waiau. He understood that from Kali autara to Mendip had not been sur- : he President suggested that the Can- . 'uiry and Marlborough Progress Leas should be communicated with, and ■ I to supply information regarding ■'i at further steps were to be taken. The Rev. C. I’. Saunders moved that he Leagues mentioned be written to i king that their best endeavours be ;na le to urge the completion of the survey with as little delay as possible. Seconded by Mr W. Scott and carried. ihe President advised that he had no; had time to go into the question of rural mail delivery, but would not lose sight of the question. A. vote of thanks was passed to the delegates for attending the deputation, i;r‘ to the President for his report? A vote of thanks to the Chairman ••on eluded the business.