OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22816, 27 February 1936, Page 18

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE Tiie monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League was held on. Tuesday evening, Mr G. J. Errington presiding. There were also present Messrs W. B. Tavenier, A. Smith, R. T. Stewart, J. Collins, (i. Newey and A. Smiley. A letter was received from the Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) in connection with the league's effort regarding the opening of the Training College and the appreciation of the congratulatory message received. "In connection with the inquiry regarding New Zealand Airways, the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) wrote stating that he was securing all the evidence, and, when this was, accomplished, he would go thoroughly into the subject. A letter from the general manager of railways was read outlining the policy of the department in regard to the everincreasing volume of tourist traffic in the south and west of the South Island. The use of railcars (as advocated for many years by the league) on the southern and central sections was promised, and the co-ordination of the road service to link tin with the railcar and the lake steamer service on Lake Wakatipu was outlined. —lt was stated that application was being made through the Transport Board for such an inter-linked service as would amply meet all needs and providing a system of fast, comfo-Mde travel. The arrangements outlined would not only meet the ordinary and tourist but would be elastic enough to cope with heavy bookings in holiday seasons or organised parties visiting the scenic centres. The support of the leaeue would be aporeciated by the department, whose aim was to make the scenic attractions of Otago and Southland easily accessible to the millions as well as to the millionaire. In the discussion which followed complimentary reference was made by members to the forward and progressive policv outlined by the general manager and the impetus such action would give to the development of the tourist traffic. The adoption of the railcar wag especially hailed with delight, as for nearly 20 years this form of traction had been consistently urged upon the department by the league. ' It was stated that the success of this system in other countries was so marked that the slowness of its adoption in New Zealand came to be a real grievance. Even now the keenest of the railcar sponsors on the league were disappointed that the department had selected the more costly and halt-obsoles-cent direct petrol engine instead of the high-speed Diesel. The fact that railcars were actually to. be used upon the Centra! Otago railway was a matter of great satisfaction. Tt was resolved to send the league s congratulations to the general manager, and to urge the wider use of the new unit as speedily as possible. In connection with the Central railway, a request for the league's assistance was made by the Town Council of Alexandra to secure the running of the night goods train throughout the year, as its good results during the fruit season were much appreciated by town dwellers and settlers along the route.—The request was approved, and it was decided to suggest that passenger traffic could be handled by railcars. The league heartily supported the proposed report on the Kingston-Queenstown load and the possibility of its opening on

April 1. The step taken in conjunction with the Automobile Association in preparing for the historic occasion and the suggestions made to the Lake County Council were received and approved. The delegates who attended the meeting called by the Mayor regarding the creation of a Civic square by the removal of the old Telegraph Office, and the celebration of the Dominion centenary by holding an international exhibition in Wellington, tendered their reports. In each case the delegates were thanked for their attendance and service, and the matter was :ield in abeyance .pending further consideration, when further details are available. Correspondence from the Lnamber pi Commerce concerning .a collective publicity effort as originally suggested by the ceneral manager of the Tourist Department to the annual meeting of Progress Leagues was received and held over pending the report of a sub-committee at present investigating the most reasonable and effective methods of rendering assistance. , , , . , . ... The wellrillustrated and highly mtormative article on the Haast Pass which recently appeared in the Otago Daily Times came in for warm, praise owing to its great publicity value, and it was decided that the thanks and congratulations of the league should be forwarded to the editor and manager.