QUEENSTOWN PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3719, 16 November 1926, Page 5

QUEENSTOWN PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

A meeting 1 of the Progressive League was held on Thursday evening. Present: Rev. H. S. Bishop (chairman), Messrs T. J. Melville, J. J. McNeill, H. Overton, W. Eyton, J. P. White (secretary) and Miss M. S. Warren.

The minutes of the. 'last meeting were, read and confirmed,, and outward correspondence was read and l approved. —lnward Co rr e s pen de n oe.

W. M. Blaikie, Otautau, wrote for warding live . panoramic views of Queenstown and its environs, and soliciting an order for copies^—To be informed that Executive cannot see its way to give an order. The Queenstown Borough Council wrote acceding to the, request that some of the. street sweepings be,

dumped on the One-Mile reserve, for filling-in purposes. The Railway Department wrote, informing the League, that it was proposed to commence the series of weekly evening excursions on Lake Wakatipu on Thursday, November 18. It was asked that the League co-oper-ate in making the excursions a success.

Some discussion took place regarding the excursions being arranged for Thursday evenings as in past years. It was considered that if they were- run on Tuesdays., instead, weekenders would have, an opportunity of making the trip- This would conduce to larger patronage and to the excursions, being a still greater success. It was resolved to write to the Officer-in-ch arge making this recommendation.

A letter was also received from, the Railway Department asking whether there' was a chance' of any picnic excursions being 1 arranged this season by business houses 1 , schools, and other organisations in the district.—-ISecre-tary to reply that the matter would be kept in view. Mr McNeil, Publicity Officer, Railway Department, wrote giving some particulars of the railway service round trips which it was intended to conduct during the season—Received with thanks, A letter was received from the secretary of the Southland Motor Association pointing out the desirability of establishing a motorists' camping ground in Queenstown— The secretary reported that he had sent a copy of the letter to the l Borough Council, which body had the matter of a camping ground in han<L A reply had been received that it would be ready for use in time for the holiday season—The secretary to advise the S.M.A. accordingly. OTHER BUSINESS.

Some discussion took place regarding the hour of departure (5 p.m) from Gienorchy of the excursion steamer on Mondays. It was considered that the hour might with considerable advantage' be altered to 4 p.im The existing time-table made the day a very tong one, and the amval of passengers an hour earlier in Queenstown would be much appreciated. This was especially desirable when the evenings were drawing in, as it meant that the Journey was • being finished in the dark when the hour; of departure was 5 p.m:. Owing to the fact of the Paradise trip being done so much more expeditiously since motor traffic came into existence excursionists would really not be robbed of time at Paradise.—-It was decided to write the local O.T.C. in terms of the discussion. In view of the attitude of the Borough Council towards the gift of the Children’s Playground offered them, it was unanimously resolved to withdraw the League’s offer. It was decided to write the Minister of Internal Affairs asking whether it would be possible to include Queenstown in the N.&.' itinerary of the Duke and Duchess of York. The following were appointed to the Executive of the League : Messrs H. 0. Lorden and Jas. Powell, On the motion of Messrs Melville and Bishop the secretary was voted an honorarium of £lO.. Speaking to the motion the mover - referred to the trojan work done by Mr White during the sixteen months the League had been in existence. The secretarial work has quadrupled in that period, and in addition the amount of organisation required and supervision of the League's undertakings imposed a tremendous burden on their secretary and treasurer. His out-of-pocket expenses, too, had been no small item. —Mr White said he was averse to accepting any such recognition, of his services., as what lie had’ done for the League had been done for the welfare, of the town and from a sense, of citizenship. On its being put to the meeting 1 the motion was carried unanimously. Mr Melville brought forward a suggestion that the League approach the Tourist Department, through its local representatives, with a view to a putting ground being established in the Park. It would require little or no expenditure as the green was there in abundance. Nearly every town and city in the Old Land —ini Scotland in particular—had its municipal putting area In the Parks, and the small charge made (2d or 3d a round of 18 holes) was a source of considerable, reive,nue to the authorities.—lt was resolved to approach the Tourist Department as suggested. Accounts as follows were passed for payment:—General Fund account, £3 13s Gel; special town wharf repairs, account. £2B 13s lid. Miss Warren said she had had a. letter from. "Miss Marguerite Jopp stating her readiness to assist any effort the League might make in the direction of a concert, provided a convenient data could be mutually arranged before Christmas—Left in the secretary’s and Miss Warren’s hands. The meeting terminated witli a vote of thanks to the chair.