OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 71

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

The Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League met on Thursday evening. Mr S. B. Macdonald presided, and there weie also present Messrs C. W. Hayward, J Inglis Wright, L. D. Ritchie* H. M. Mackay. and Captain Sundstrum. The principal item for consideration was the question of supporting the claim of Lincoln College as the best site for the Dominion Agricultural College. It was considered that the fact that such a college was already established and had rendered good service for so many years made it in the opinion of the executive, most regrettable that the proposed policy of erecting a College of Agriculture in the North Island should threaten southern institution with extinction. It was resolved to take action and invite other bodies to consider the subject and forward their decisions to Wellington. In the meantime telegrams to the Prime Minister and to Mr J\ K. Side-" representing the Otago members of Parliament had been forwarded. The Department of Agriculture notified the league that the amended and reorganised Agricultural Club proposals were still being considered and the league wouid shortly be consulted regarding its share of the work as the local society. The great advance in this branch of rural education, in America gave good ground for the assumption that a similar result wouid attend the efforts of the organisers in the Dominion. A letter of appreciation from the Chamber of Commerce on the league’s efforts regarding the presessional meeting with members of Parliament was received and the executive was gratified that its efforts met with approval. The vexed question of accommodation at Milford Sound was again discussed following the receipt of the Minister of Tourists* reply to the league’s request far the earlv building of n hocfel on the «ite of Sutherland’s old homestead. Mr Noswnrthy advised that the matter was now under review and it would receive consideration when the Public Works Estimates were being framed. Since the inception of hydro electric installation in the Dominion the league had advocated the utilisation of Lake Ilawea as a source of power. The demand for power in Central Otaon it was learned was rapidly overtaking the capacity of the Teviot cHfion fa *upr)lv ; t *»»ul riropnc a lg were on foot to link up the Roaring Meg, in the Kawarau Gorge, to replenish its depicted stock. The executive considered that this is an opportune moment in which to bring under the notice of the new Minister of Public Works the advisability of utilising the larger and more economical source. The replies to the various resolutions passed at the recent conference of South Island leagues were read and ordered to bo forwarded to the other leagues for their information.