OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 15

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

The Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League held its monthly meeting on Tuesday night; Mr G. J. Erring ton in the chair. V In the absence of the president' (Mr S B. Macdonald), the secretary reported the proceedings of the recent annual Conference of South. Island Progress Leagues, held in Blehheim. The laud settlement proposals put forward; by the leaguewere especially well received,, and the general principle that some better method thaii the * present one should be utilised was agreed, to. The subject, however, was of so great a magnitude, and the details as varied and | , far-reaching, that, the conference deemed it'. the wiser , course to refer it direct to the various leagues for full consideration during the year, the question to'be brought forward for discussion at. the next conference ir Nelson early in March next year. Mr W. B. Taverner wrote to the league advising that he had requested the French Consul-general in Auckland to convey an invitation to the commander 'of the French cruiser, which will visit the Dominion in the near future, to extend the itinerary as far as Dunedin, and enclosing the Consul-general's reply, which promised n definite answer when the arrangements of the naval authorities are made known. The executive was gratified at the continued interest, displayed in its behalf by a busy Minister of the Crown, and acknowledged the efforts made to beep Otago* 1 open as a port of pall for the vessels of France. The reading of the correspondence evoked pleasant memories of the visits; of the Aldebarau and the Cassiope. The General . Manager oi Railways wrote regarding the request made to him that the railway known as the Lawrence Branch should now be called the Roxburgh Branch, giving his consent to the change, and notifying , that time tables and uotiqe boards would bo altered in accordance with the decision. During the recent visit of the’Minister of Public Works to the south, the league met him as a deputation, and made strong representations on the apportionment of the cost for the re-construction of the traffic bridge over the Molyneux at Balclutha. Through Mr A. E. Anscll, M.P., the Minister replied that the subject had been re-considered. and a new and move liberal subsidy offered. The result of the decision is that a'handsome and efficient two-way traffic bridge over the river, will."'soon be eroded, and , the cost to fhe local bodies jointly: responsible is reduced to loss..thaii £9000.' The new bridge will be a great acquisition to users of the Main South road, and will obviate the irritating delnya which now' occur, when much traffic gravitates towards the present narrow way. •• The executive re: solved to thank Mr Ansell for his assistance and support. The Publicity Department forwarded a superb series of views recently taken of Dunedin and the surrounding country, with thanks for the ready help rendered by the league in securing the pictures.. Members wore delighted with the result, averring that they are the finest selection yet made, and they congratulate the department on the varies! y and artistic merit of the display. With such illustrations the charm cf the district can be made more widely known, and the publication of them will induce many people to visit so charming and picturesque a locality.

Several matters in connection with tbe annual pre-sessional meeting with local members of Parliament were discussed, and the secretary was instructed to make the necessary arrangements.