OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3881, 31 July 1928, Page 5

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

EXECUTIVE MEETING. The Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League met on Tuesday evening and, in the absence of the president, the chair was occupied by Mr G. J. Enington, vice-president. The other members present were Messrs H. M'Dowell Smith. T. Anderson, L. D. Ritchie, J. E. Winsloe, C. H. Hayward, J. Y. Love, R. T. Stewart, and J. Inglis Wright. Among the correspondence was a letter from copies of the petition being prepared for presentation to the Prime Minister praying for the taking over by the Government of the lands held by the Cromwell Development Company.—The benefits which would follow the close settlement of this area were so marked that the executive had no hesitation in supporting the petition, and every effort will be made to support the petitioners. From experiments carried out by the company, it has been proved that the land is capable of carrying large numbers of sheep and, for dairying purposes, is a cow to the acre proposition. Such carrying powers mean small farms, close settlement, and extensive production, all these being primary objectives of the league. Correspondence- relative to the Post Office building included the protest made by the builders and contractors Union of Employers regarding the foundations and the plan adopted by the Public Works Department, as well as the reply of the Minister of Public Works to Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., in the House, and a letter ■ from Mr.. W. Downie Stewart confirming the statement. —These were duly read and received, the secretary being instructed to communicate with the Minister again and press for a definite date on which operations would be commenced. The delegates appointed to act with the Chamber of Commerce in connection with Professor Osborne’s visit, and his proposal that a delegate should be sent from Dunedin to Vancouver next Easter for the great educational conference there, reported the result of that meeting and the steps taken to bring about the representation desired. The report-was received and adopted, further action to be_ taken when the sub-committee appointed had outlined a plan of campaign. The league was also interested in the steps being taken to foster the growth of trade between Dunedin and Samoa, and reports were tabled of the results of the first shipment of fruit by the Government steamer Maui Pomare. The executive approved of the. action taken and would await with interest the arrival of the first direct shipment next month, when the steamer is to make Dunedin its first port of call. It was resolved to cooperate with the other bodies interested in a publicity campaign for the exploitation of this source of fruit supply to the uttermost, and endeavour to awaken the patriotism of the people to the great advantages which must follow the successful opening of such a service. With regard to the agitation for the granting of a subsidy towards a direct and adequate steamer service between the South Island and Melbourne, which was still being vigorously pushed forward, correspondence from Invercargill and Christchurch on the subject was read. The Southland League advanced a proposal which would allow a rating area to be created and Hie amount of money raised by way of a ’direct tax upon the land.— This, it was remarked, was certainly a very direct, if not a drastic, method of securing the amount required, but the idea did not commend itself to many country people, whose opinions jiad been expressed upon it. The subsidy should, in the league’s opinion, be paid by the Government as a national requirement. The matter was to be fully discussed at a conference which would be held in Dunedin shortly. It was stated that it was very gratifying that the chambers of commerce, shippers and importers’ associations, and the leagues in each of the provinces were closely united in this campaign, and were determined to carry their point by. the aid of the ballot box, if lesser measures did not prevail. The arrangements made for the annual meeting of the league were considered and approved, and the closing meeting of the year was marked by the notification of several objectives to be kept in view by the incoming executive during the ensuing year.