OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 2

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of tho Otago Expansion League was hold -on Tuesday evening, Mr Macdonald (president) in tho chair. J-ho Question of the collapse of tho South IslandMolbourno steamer service was brought up by a resolution from the Southland League asking for the assistance of the Otago League in making representations to the Union Steam Ship Company for a speedy resumption of this important service.—lho executive agreed to support tho protest, and expressed the hope that the cabled nows of the settlement of tho maritime trouble m Australia would expedite the resumption. Tho question of the South Island Mam Trunk Railway, which had occupied the attention of the conference in Invercargill, was again considered, and tho report of the Railways Committee advocating the construction of the East Coast line was approved. This decision had already been mode publio in the pre-sessional meeting, and correspondence in connection with tho subject from Canterbury and Nelson was road. Tho urgent necessity of this work, which was stressed by the recent Railway Commission, was noted, and tho Canterbury and Marlborough l/eaguos are now projxising to send a larger and influential deputation to Wellington to lay this project before the Prime Minister. At this mooting tho Otago Expansion League wll be represented, and it is hoped that Southland also will support the through mail service. The position of the Pembroke Domain Board is one which has given the league some concern during recent years. Several attempts have been made to secure from the Tourist Department a grant for the improvement of tho track and landing place on Pigeon Island, but tb© reply wb« that those places were under tho control of a local authority. This authority the board in question ha« an annual revenue of £22, a .sum totally inadequate for the function of the board. There is a movement on foot to secure, if possible an increased revenue for tho struggling boda, and if the movement succeeds these urgently necessary improvements will be made on Wanaka. . . ~ ~ During a recent visit to tho south the Hon G J Anderson publicly stated that tlto host wav inj which the southern leagues could assist the' tourist, traffic in the fcvmth Island would be bv nnpointing an officer in Auckland to meet all incoming steamers and give passengers such first-hand knowledge of the scenic beauties of the south as ’would induce them to prolong their visit to tho dominion. This question has boon taken up by tho three pnncpial leagues, and it. was arranged that a private conference should bo field oarlv in August at which Canterbury, Southland, and Otago should come to a definite understanding os to tho appointment of such an officer and the payment to be attached to such service. The Welcome to be extended to the personnel of the destroyer flotilla of tho American fleet was discussed, and the proposed souvenir booklet was approved, tho league undertaking to provide its pro rata share of tho expenditure. A travelled member of the executive introduced tho subject of welcome arches such ns are erected by various communities in the Old World. These arches span the main road entrances to tho town somewhat in the manner of tho fortified gates of ancient days. But the modern entrance is meant not to repol, but to attract, and instead of tho moat, tho drawbridge, and the portcullis, an up-to-date gateway will proclaim a welcome to Dunedin. It is a fascinating idea, but the feeling of the mooting was scarcely strong enough to push it immediately into tho foreground. Still, in view of the Exfdbition of next summer, such a welcome might captivate hundreds of road visitors. 'file balance sheet for the year ended March 31 to be printed and adopted and tho annual meeting was fixed for July 30.

SOUTH ISLAND REQUIREMENTS. DISCUSSED BY OTAGO MEMBERS. (Fbom Own Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 8. Otago members met to-day to arrange for representation to various Ministers the matters brought forward by the Otago Expansion League. Those present were Messrs T K. Sidoy, G. E. Statham, J. Mncpherson, J. Bitehener, J. M‘C. Dickson, J. W Munro, and an apology was received from Mr J. Horn. The question of urging the Government to complete the South Island Main Trunk Railway was discussed, and it was agreed to meet tho other South Island members next Wednesday to discuss tho possibility of a deputation to the Government on the subject