OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21300, 2 April 1931, Page 16

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

EXECUTIVE MEETING Mr G. J. Errington presided over the monthly-meeting of the executive of - the Otago Expansion League- on Tuesday evenlleference wes made to the withdrawal of the Melbourne steamer during the winter months, and members expressed regret at the necessity for a cessation ol the service. „ . . The smoke nuisance at Kensington was the subject'of lengthy correspondence between the league and the Minister ol Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch), who, unfortunately for the residents, feels himself compelled by economic pressure to cease the use of smokeless fuel, which Mr W.-B. Taverner had inaugurated. Efforts will be made to minimise the nuisance, and the league'has requested the Minister to notify it when the chief fuel expert will visit Dunedin, so that a deputation of the residents may wait upon him. The annual conference of South Island Progress Leagues was to have been held in Invercargill during the_ autumn, but the general condition of affairs, it was felt, did not warrant the meeting,, and a postponement was decided on. A recent visitor, to the. South Island, Mr Richard .A. Zerega, of New 1 ork, wrote to the league regretting the brevity of his visit, and his inability to meet members. But even his brief sojourn unpressed him, for he wrote: 1 , e W°^ e T my stay at Queenstown and regret that i had not more time to spend in the beautiful lake region of the South Island. New Zealand is certainly a splendid country, and there should be more American tourists here, but New Zealand country hotels will have to be improved somewhat if the American tourist traffic is to be attracted. However, such hotels are probably superior to hotels,of a corresponding type in my country.” ~ The president laid before the meeting some interesting facts about rail cars and the recent developments in this method ot transport. It has been the hope that this method of carriage should be installed on the Dunedin suburban service, but so tar the department has not viewed the project with favour. The league is hopeful, however, that success will eventually croivn its efforts. . _ , , The subject of irrigation in Central Otago was again considered, and it was resolved to set up a sub-committee to consider a scheme brought forward and report to the next meeting of the executive, on the adaptability of the proposal. A suggestion submitted to the president for the issue of a pictorial folder on the country between Dunedin and Pembroke was mentioned, and if, after full inquiry, it is deemed advisable, the publication will be issued under the auspices of the league.