FOB PROGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11190, 21 April 1922, Page 5

FOB PROGRESS

HUTT VALLEY LEACUE NEW BODY FORMED TO ADVANCE DISTRICTS INTERESTS. TRAMWAY PROPOSALS. The inaugural meeting of the Hutc Valley Progress League was held last evening in the ' Council Chambers, Lower Huitt. His AVorship the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr W. T. Strand) presided and present were:—-Colonel G.

Mitchell. M.P., Councillors Meldrum, A. Mitchell, A. Mcßain and A. J. West, of the Lower Hutt; Mr J. AV. McEwan, Mayor of Petone, Messrs C. Al. Luke, M. E. Denniston, E. AV. I-lunt, E. P. Bunny, and about thirty residents. The chairman stated that it had been considered that the 'time was ripo for the formation of a Progress League, and he called upon oither speakers to explain the objects of the proposed organisation. THE NEED FOR A LEAGUE. Mr C. M. Luke, president of the Central League, expressed his pleasure at being requested to aldress the meeting. . The South Otago Progress- League, and Similar organisations in Auckland and Southland had been in existence before them. They had all succeeded, in many ways and had obtained the expenditure of Government money in their areas. Probably the greatest achievement had been that of the Southland league with its,.success in the matter of waterpower. Canterbury had probably been more energetic than either of the other centres in the matter of advertising propaganda. He paid a tribute to the woiji of the Auckland league in this direction and (to its indefatigable campaign. The fact that such leagues existed -had made it imperative that Wellington district should have 6imi lar ..organisations. The new body had, however, come into being not from this lower motive; but because certain public, works in the district had been postponed from time to time, and it had been found necessary to bring pressure to bear. : The league existed to cultivate public opinion, to discover the natural requirements of the area and to link up with co-operative effort. He did not think that the things heeded would come without central government.

TRAM AND RAIL. Colonel G. Mitchell, M.P. (hen. secretary of the Central Progress League) supported the statements of Ml Luke. He was of the opinion that no official existing body could undertake the work which the Progress League would ’tackle. There was overlapping and jealousy in the constituted homes which could not take a general view nor provide for the future. At present there were three local bodies administering the Hutt Valley, whereas it was desirable that, there should be only one. The first step towards linking up with the city was to Lave one body administering the valley’s interests. And the Progress League was an unofficial body ,and a. first stop in this direction. Hd put in a plea for the electrifying ef railroads and the improvement of the Hutt Valley artenal roads. ~ Mr J. W. McEwan, Mayor or Petone, urged that an electric tramway proposal should be considered. He thought that the two councils should get together once more and reconsider the matter of a tramway. The time was opportune for the consideration of this matter for the whole of the district. The people were entitled to the cheapest mode of transport available.

“NO ROOM FOR DIVISION-” Mr E. P. Bunny moved that the meeting should constitute itself a League of Citizens of Hutt Valley and Form a -branch of the Central League. There was no room for division of opinion; they must co-operate with Petone whole-heartedly, and he considered that (there should be a Hutt Valley district, independent of Welin^ t r on j w. McEwan seconded the motion. He could, be said, sfee nothing but good resulting from it. Mr M. E. Deniston supported the proposal. They should endeavour to impress upon the Government the necsßsitv for cho&por means of transit* “Boost'the district,” should be their A vrhs resolved unanimously to form a body to he known as the Hutt Valley Progress League. . . ’ Mr Strand thanked the visitors for their addresses. They should take advantage of an unrivalled opportunity. As far as the Hutt Valley was concerned there was no better and none equal, and they must make provision .for the overflow from the city which *ould naturally go th<fir way. It was decided to appoint Messrs MeEwan, Mcißain and Deninston a provisional committee to canvass the district and to arrange for a meeting to be held at Petone on a later date. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the visitors by acclamation. It was resolved to fun a ’bus to Petonofor the second meeting of the league. __