DUNEDIN EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 6

DUNEDIN EXPANSION LEAGUE.

A meeting of the Dunedin Expansion League was held in the Council Chambers, Town Hall on the 19th. JH is Worship the (Mr Burnett) presided, and 26 other gentlemen were present. The object of the meeting, which was purely a formal one. was to adopt the constitution of the league and appoint office-bearers. EKPOHT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE. Mr A. Bathgate submitted, on behalf of the sub-committee appointed at the previous meeting, a report of what has been done since the last meeting, and made a number of recommendations-. Mr Bathgate, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was only fitting that due aeknowledgment should be mude of the valuable services rendered to the league \yr JVIi J. Inglis Wright, who was really the originator of the movement. Mr Peter Duncan seconded the motion, and stated that it wrs the intention of the committee to hold a macs meeting of citizens, after the holidays, to give an impetus to the objects for which the league was formed. There was no doubt that although the league ivas really Dunedin Expansion League, there was underlying it a desire to foster in every way the tr.e ir.tere tJ of Otago as a whole. The motion was adopted without dissent. On the motion of Mr J. 0. Stephens the following office-bearers and committee© were elected : —Executive. Committee—President, Mr A. Bathgate; vice-presidents, Mr J. J. Marlow and Hon. J. T. Paul, and one to be appointed. Membership and Finance Committee—Messrs Geo Crow, Peter Duncan, E. I. Hallenstein, A. Moritzson, J. A. Roberts, J. B. Shaddock, Chas. Speight, S. Solomon, H. K. Wilkinson, H. E. Wilson. Trades and Industries Committee —Messrs W. 0. Burt, E. Cameron, Geo. Gray, T. Glendining, John MacGregor, F. W. Mitchell, Keith S. Ramsay, P. R. S&rgood, George Simpson Archd. Smellie. president Trades and Labour Council. Country Development ' Committee — Messrs Joseph Allan, F. G. Duncan, E. F. Duthie, A. Gilchrist, G. M. Marshall, A. Moritzson, Crosby Morris, J. A. Doberts, E Tamblyn, J. B. Waters. Natural Resources Development Committee —Messrs B. B. Couston, Peter Duncan, R. A. Ewing. Fred. Freeman, W. E. Knight, J. C. M'George, H. F. Moss, E. E. Stark, Professor Park, Professor Waters. Tourist and Amenities Committee—Messrs A. Bathgate, J. J. Clark, G. Fenwick, Magnus Johnson, G. A. Lewin : E. E. Stark, W. Downie Stewart ; D. Tannoek, J. Inglis Wright, Dr Riley. Educational Committee —Messrs W. R, Brugh, Jas. Rennie, C. R. Richardson, W. Scott, J. 0. Stephens. J." 11. Wilkinson. Publicity Committee—Messrs James Dick, R. A. Erring, P. Milburn, J. G. Moody, W. S. Wilson, J. Inglis Wright. Legislation Vigilance Committee—Messrs A. J. Butterfield, C. Darling, Peter Duncan, W. G. Hay, J. Loudon, W. Scott, W. Thompson. The question of the appointment* of a women's committee was referred to the Executive Committee. Mr G. Crow moved, and it was' resolved, that Mr Stewart Wright be appointed interim secretary at a remuneration to be fixed. Mr J. Inglis Wright suggested that some time early in the year a great carnival should be held in Dunedin lasting for a

full week In tlrs endeavour he suggested that not only Dunedin, but Otago, should be represented, and that in it the clarion note should bo sounded that the people of Dunedin stood not only for their municipality, but for th© province as a whole.—■ i (Loud applause.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr J. Inglis Wright for h's past services to the league, and the meeting concluded'with a vote of thanks to the Mayor (who £s a. member ex officio of the Executive Committee) for presiding. NECESSITY FOR THE, LEAGUE. The league, in a printed addrees, gives the -following:— Dunedin retains its supremacy as the wealthiest and most solid city in the Dominion. 1c is pre-eminent in its natural beauty, in the number and importance of its manufactures and industries, and in the magnitude of its academic institutions. It is the finest built city, and the fitting headquarters of many of the largest mercantile organisations in the Dominion. In many ways Dunedin has held its own. and on all hands evident and abundant indications of prosperity are to be seen. But, secure in the fulness of its manifold possessions, our fair city has of late years , been disposed to slacken the pace, and j has perhaps failed in some degree to manij fest that spirit of entherpriso and aggresij si veneris which for so long has been associated with its name. i This is notably the case- in regard to population. For example, 30 years ago the population of the four chief cities was as follows: Dunedin and suburbs ... 42,794 Auckland and suburbs ... 30,952 Christchurch and suburbs... 30,715 Wellington and suburbs ... 20,563 The figures to-day stand thus: ) Auckland end suburbs ... 102.676 Cbristehuroh and suburbs... 78,442 Wellington and suburbs ... 70.729 i Dunedin and suburbs ... 64,237 1 There are no doubt good and satisfactory reasons to explain the changed position occupied by Dunedin. Facts and figures can be brought forward to account fully and, possibly, accurately for the marked advances made by the northern cities in rec.eiit years, but we have reached that. stage where the recognition of these has 1 ceased to deter us from a forward movement. Scores and scores of cities and towns in the Home Land and the United States of America have organised Develpment and Publicity Asociation® on very -similar lines to those of this league with marked beneficial results. Changed conditions demand the employment of modern methods, prominent among which is the extensive use of the potent force of publicity. In Central Otago we have a back country of marvellous resources—-agricultural, pastoral, and mineral. For example, it is unsurpassed for apple-growing in the Southern Hemisphere. But what has been done to develop these potentialities? What to let the world know of the latent oppor- , tunities existing here? | In Dunedin we have ample room for new industries, plenty of space for factory sites on o>ir reclaimed land, cheap coal in abundance, electric motive power, and innumerable advantages and facilities for manufacturers generally. What has been. ( done to make these facts known in the proper quarters? One of the principal objects of this league is to bring within reach of all likely to be interested the. fullest information about what we have to offer. We want to arouse everyone from . indifference, to stir all to activity, and make each man. woman, and child an I active agent in this propaganda. We inI vita you to become a member of the Dunedin Expansion League, pledging yourself to do all within your power to promote the well-being of Otago, tbe progress j of Dunedin, and the consequent individual prosperity of every resident and citizen. The expense of maintaining tho league and carrying out its function? will amount in round figures to fully £2OOO per annum. Contributions will be received from every resident, male or female, of the city and province, and a subscriotion of even one shilling per annum will entitle the subscriber to all the privileges of membership.