DUNEDIN EXPANSION LEAGUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 13

DUNEDIN EXPANSION LEAGUE

ANNUAL REPORT. The following are the principal features in the annual reports of the various committees of the Dunedin Expansion League : The Executive feels that the eight committees of the'league have been successful in doing something to create a more optimistic atmosphere, and that their efforts to regain for Dunedin a foremost place among the cities of the dominion, and forwarding the interests of Otago generally, have not been without effect. The balance-sheet and statement of accounts discloses a satisfactory state of affairs. That the league has been able to secure promises for £B9l 4s 2d (the greater part of which has been promised annually for a period of three years) is evidence of the tact that the Membership and Finance Committee has not by any means been inactive, and that the work of the league has appealed to the citizens. Very suitable offices have been secured in the Stock Exchange buildings, which are both convenient and centrally situated.

The Trades and Industries Committee states that the llrst question to engage the minds of the committee was that of the shortage of labour exnericnced by a number of manufacturers in the city and from information received by the committee consequent upon inquiries sent to a number of manufacturers, it was decided to recommend the executive to approach the Government with a view of initiating a more vigorous system of immigration. The information secured by the league was prepared in tabulated form and a deputation waited on the Hon. UD. Bell when in Dunedin on December" 13, 1912. Mr Bathgate, on behalf of the league, placed trie information secured before the Minister, and this gentleman afforded a good deal of encouragement to the expectation that the Government _ will generally pursue a more active immigration policy than heretofore. The committee gathered information concerning sites that would be available for manufactories, ascertaining the terms cm which sites could bo purchased or built upon. Such information has proved of value to firms contemplating the establishment of a new industry in Dunedin, and a number who it is understood purpose commencing in New Zealand have already been communicated with. The committee also inquired into the question, with satisfactory results, of the diversion of London-Dunediu direct steamers from Dunedin as the first port of call. A circular to intending immigrants to New Zealand detailing the possibilities of employment in Dunedin has been published by the committee. The committee has been successful in securing situations for a large number of the immigrants who have arrived during the year under review*

The Country Development Committee reporta that one of the first works taken in hand by the committee was an inquiry into the large area of land in the Whare Flat, Silverstream Valley, and the Silver Peaks localities, it havintr been alleged that this country was not utilised to the best advantage. It was ascertained that the principal part of this country was utilised by the Dunedin Corporation as a watershed, and that the remaining portion of the country was naturally poor, and most of it cold and backward in winter and spring. At an early date the committee co-operated with the LawrenceRoxburgh Railway in urging upon the Government the completion of the line to Beaumont, and has since displayed an active interest in this work. The committe has also from time to time been urging upon the Government the resumption of work on the Otago Central railway line. In February, 19112, a tour of Central Otago was arranged by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Central Railway League. Early in September a deputation from the Alexandra Progressive Settlement League waited on the committee to solicit the league's assistance in urging the Government to place a sum of money on the Estimates sufficient to enable irrigation works in Central Otago to be gone on with immediately. The representations of that league received the consideration of the committee, and the Government was approached with a view to prosecuting this work. The committee was of material

service in finding employment for a large number of immigrants. I'ho Hon. Minister of Immigration was also approached on the subject of seeing that Otago received a fair share of the immigrants arriving from the Old Country, and that gentleman promised that he would endeavour to arrange that when the shipping companies advertised Dunedin as the first port of call in New Zealand that the steamers would carry out their advertised announcement instead of passing the port by as heretofore, and since then one of the companies, the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, has promised that this shall be done Late in January, 1913, a trip through Otago Central was arranged by the Otago Central Railway League, foxseveral of the northern members of Parliament. The Otago Genti'al Fruitgrowers’ Association sought the assistance of the League in inquiring into various disabilities which it suffered at the hands of the Railway Department. Inquiries were made by the league, with the desired effect. A communication has been addressed to several of the public bodies in the country districts with the object of securing their assistance in the formation of country branches of the league. committee has approached the Government with a view to more vigorously prosecuting afforestation in Otago generally, especially in Central Otago. The protection of opossums is also receiving the attention of the committee, and a petition to the House is now being prepared, which it is intended to have signed by the settlers, praying that the taking of opossums be limited to the three winter months, and that anyone taking opossums on other than his own land will require'to pay a license fee. The Natural Resources Development Committee reports that early in the year the matter of probable legislative hindrances to the alluvial mining was taken into consideration, and has been receiving the attention of the committee ever since, together with the pollution of streams by sluicing and hydraulic gold-mining. It is anticipated that legislation will be brought down to bear on these Questions within the near future, and with a view to this fact the committee has been considering the matter and going into it very carefully so as to be able to make a number of suggestions that will protect the interests of the farmers and at the same time impose no undue hardship on the miners.

The Tourists and Amenities Committee states that the first work taken in hand by the committee was the preparation of a series of illustrated pamphlets descriptive of the scenic beauties of the different tourist resorts. These pamphlets were written by Messrs A. Bathgate and G. Fenwick, and details of publication were arranged by the Publicity. Committee. As an evidence of the usefulness of these pamphlets Mr S. J. Collett, the local manager of the Tourist Department, states that he anticipates very heavy tourist traffic to the southern lakes and Central Otago during the coming season. The Tourist Department made a grant of £25 towards the cost of these publications. Tho committee also decided to issue a guide-book to the City of Dunedin, and Mr Magnus Johnson has undertaken this work. The committee has been making arrangements for honorary agents at each of the chief Australian ports, so as to ensure, a judicious distribution of the league’s publications, and is pleased to report having been successful in this endeavour both at Melbourne and Singapore. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for motor car trips round about the city during the summer months to cater for tourists and other visitors to Dunedin.

The first work undertaken by the Educational Committee was to inquire into the question of the disposal of the income from the educational reserves of tho province. This matter was kept steadily in view, and finally brought Before a meeting of the Otago members of Parliament. The question of granting higher leaving certificates to pupils of the Girls’ High School, so that they might obtain bursaries, also received consideration. The committee entered into communication with the department, and is glad to report that bursaries were granted to all pupils who were approved by the principal. The Publicity Committee arranged advertisements in several important publications, which proved distinctly effective, having induced a great number of inquiries concerning Dunedin and the province generally from different parts of the world. In addition to such advertisements arrangements were made with the proprietor of the monthly journal Progress to issue a special Otago number dealing largely with Dunedin and the province from an industrial point of view, and pointing out the facilities offered by Dunedin for the establishment of new manufactories. ■ This was very successful, and had a wide circulation. During tho year the committee lias published a series of four illustrated pamphlets, three of which deal with tho scenic beauties of Otago tourist resorts and one with Dunedin. In addition to the foregoing, a handbook of some 20 pages, of information on fruit-growing, was also published. Tho first of a series of small leaflets “Facts about Dunedin” was printed, the subject being “Climate.” The cost of thescenic pamphlets was materially decreased by a grant of £25 from the Tourist Department, and by £SO received for advertisements in same.

The Legislation Vigilance Committee’s duties are not such as to lead to active endeavour except upon special occasions; but the members willingly respond to any call. The main parliamentary papers are received by the committee, and attention is given to all legislation which is being brought before the House. The committee suggested to tho executive the desirability of arranging a meeting with all Otago members of Parliament for the purpose of discussing the question of securing solidarity of action of members in all matters affecting the welfare and development of this provincial district. This suggestion

took form in the excellent send-off provided by this league’s executive in conjunc tion with several other bodies. 1