THE AWAKENING NORTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 8

THE AWAKENING NORTH

PROGRESS LEAGUE FORMED. MAKING RESOURCES KNOWN. UNITED CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , . WHANGAREI.. Saturday.. The formation of a North Auckland Progress League was decided upon last evening at a meeting of delegates from all the counties in North Auckland, except Rodney, and including representatives from the towns of Dargaville, Hikurangi, and Whangarei. The movement originated in a letter from Mr. R. H. Allan, of Whangarei, to the Borough Council. The object was defined as being to unite all public bodies and associations north of Auckland, with individual members of the league, in a sustained co-operative effort to assist in the development of North Auckland; to make more widely known its resources and opportunities; and to supply information to prospective settlers and i/ouriiits. All the Whangarei public bodies joined the movement, and after a campaign had been launched, last evening's meeting confirmed the extension of the league and elected officers, Mr. D. A. McLean, Mayor of Whangarei, becoming first president, and Mr. R. E. Hornblow, Mayor of Dargaville, vice-president. Mr. McLean, in an address, said that he hoped that the offices would go round, in order to prevent parochialism from creeping in. Whangarei was more desirous of helping other parts* of North Auckland than of serving its own interests. Mr. Hornblow, when returning tiianks, enunciated the slogan, " Hands across North Auckland; united for progress," and that was adopted as the motto of the organisation. The executive appointed comprises the officers, and Messrs. J. W. Heslop (Otamatea), J. W. Jones (Bay of Inlands), F. A. Jones (Hobson), JEL B. Russell (Hokianga), A. T. Brainsby (secretary), and J. A. West (treasurer), and the president of the Hikurangi branch. / It was decided to publish a book dealing with the resources of North Auckland, in time for circulation at the Empire Exhibition in London, and an editorial board, representing all parts of the peninsula,, was constituted.