OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 7

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The sixteenth annual meeting of the Otago Expansion League was held in the Vedic Tea Rooms on the evening of July 30. The president (Mr S. B. Macdonald) occupied the chair, and . there were about 30 other members present. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS.

The chairman in moving the adoption of j the annual report, said there were a few i comments he would like to make on the work done during the past year. Having ' now enjoyed four years in the presidental chair, it appeared to him that instead of the work of the league diminishing as the needs of our districts were being satisfied, it was increasing, mainly by reason of the fact that it had become recognised throughout the provincial district as a body whose organisation was such that the questions undertaken by it received more ample consideration by the: executive, and in a very large number of cases were carried to a successful issue. The perusal of the annual report would show that the questions brought before the league were of a very far reaching nature, and dealt with practically every phase of primary and commercial interests. With reference to direct steamer service, it was with regret that he had to report that the league had not yet impressed the Government, although that body must be convinced of the justice of the claims. It was vitally necessary for the wellbeing of the South Island that a subsidised steamer service direct with Tasmania and A ictoria should be started without any further delay. It was quite unnecessary for him to point out the hardships which the trading and the travelling public suffered as the result of the failure of the Government in this matter. The Government did not appear to realise that the public should have an up-to-date steamer service as proposed, which would not only assist the progress of the South Island, but would more than pay its subsidy by increasing railway returns and, at the same time, permit tourists to visit in leisure what, after all, were the main beauty spots of the Dominion.

Speaking of afforestation, Mr Macdonald said: “If the Dominion is to supply its own timber in the near future, it will be necessary for the Government to realise the serious position into’ which its resources are falling with reference to the destruction of our forests. We have read different reports -and promises from the Forestry Department, no doubt furnished with the very best intentions so far as that department is concerned, but the attention given to the reports by the. Government makes them much wasted’ effort. In fact, I may be pardoned for calling it hot air. My reason for making this bold statement is that the forest ■areas hitherto existing in Otago and Southland have now practically disapApeared, and no serious effort is being 'made to reafforest this tract of land, which, speaking generally, is fit for no other purpose.”

It was with much satisfaction, he said, that he was able to report that the Tourist Department appeared to be alive to the necessity of more advertising and better accommodation at the chief tourist centres. He referred more particularly to Milford Sound. Tiles’- would notice with satisfaction that the hostel at Milford Sound would be definitely ready for occupation by the opening of the next tourist season. The league’s next work in connection with tourist matters would be pressing for the provision of a new steamer at Lake Te Anau, and more adequate annual revenue to enable the Pembroke Domain Board to carry out its task of beautifying Lake W-anaka. which up to the present had been sadly neglected.

In reference to main highways, the speaker said: “Up to very recently the main highways of Otago have been a reproach, but I am pleased to report that, with the exception of a stretch through the County of Waikouaiti, the roads from Oamaru to Invercargill show a very great improvement. The league, in conjunction with the Otago Motor Club, recently held a conference with the local bodies of Otago, which resulted in a'committtee being set up to interview the Highways Board, and I may say that the interview with the engineer of the Highways Board (Mr Tyndall) was of such a satisfactory nature as to permit me to say that should the counties realise their responsibilities, and I have no doubt they Will, the main roads around Dunedin will

become, in a very short time, a source of pride to the local authorities and a joy to motorists. We fully recognise the financial difficulties of the county councils, and the Highways Board also realises the position, and will work with the local bodies towards, a common solution.

For some considerable time the irrigation question had given the league a great amount of thought, and it had been inundated with complaints from every irrigation district of Central Otago. He, as president, carefully investigated the complaints, and, acting in conjunction with the irrigators themselves, presented to the Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates), the Minister of Public Works (Mr K. S. Williams), and the Minister of Lands (Mr A. D. M'Leod), the full representation of the case, as a result of which a I commission had been set up to investigate the position, and to report to the Government. They were now awaiting the commissioner’s report with interest, and when it was received it would be the duty of the incoming executive. to. study fully the report, and meet the irrigators in conference again. The South Island leagues had again met in annual conference, continued Mr M'Donald. Many remits of a far-reach-ing nature were submitted to the conference and adopted by it and referred to the South Island members of Parliament. who, in turn, placed them before the Ministers in charge of the various departments interested. One of the latest recommendations forwarded by this league had already received satisfactory consideration, and permission had been obtained to import and breed the chinchilla and angora rabbit into the Dominion, thereby instituting an industry of a very valuable nature. If properly organised, the breeding of this animal by small landholders will greatly solve the unemployment question. He had been advised of three unemployed married men who had made up their minds to import and breed this animal. In conclusion, the speaker said: Aly time as president of the league now terminates. and it is my extreme pleasure to acknowledge the willing support I have received from my vice-presidents and the members of the executive in general, and also the support that has been Riven to the league by other outside organisations, whose co-operation I gratefully acknowledge On all questions pertaining not only to Otago, but to the rest of the Dominion, we have stood shoulder to

shoulder. To the secretary and his oft- ■ cers I extend my best thanks for their I < loyalty and energy. I hope our league will go onward in progress, true to its , motto. ‘Onward Otago.’” The motion was.seconded by Mr G. vv. Errington, who said the report called for no particular • comment, but it was clear 1 that the incoming executive would simply have to put its shoulder to the wheel and I work for the attainment of the league s objectives. : I Mr J. Duncan brought up the question of more direct communication between the Hermitage and Lake Wanaka. There I was a leakage somewhere. Tourists got from Mount C-.tok to Queenstown all right, but they forgot, or did not know, that Lake Wanaka was only a short dis-1 tance away. The same thing applied to the approach to the lakes from Bluff or 1 Invercargill. He suggested that some en-1 deavour should be made to provide a better service. An officer stationed at Queenstown in an honorary capacity perhaps. might do good work in directing I people to Pembroke. Mr Charles Todd said he had been round the world fairly thoroughly in the past few years, and they would agree that he was in a position to make some comparisons. He congratulated the league on what had been done, and said he felt I sure that it had many useful years ahead of it, but there was one point on which he thought more stress should be made. The country had a great many unemployed, and he thought the Government should be urged to employ them for the beautifying and opening up of the national scenic resorts. New Zealand had as good scenery as there was to be found in any part of the world, but there was I a great deal to be done in the way of tracks and roads to improve the accessibility to many of the best resorts. In other parts of the world scenic resorts of the same kind were roaded and tracked and opened up to perfection. He mentioned several countries he had visited, and said that New Zealand could not and said they could not be compared with New Zealand for wealth and beauty of scenery. The Government should set aside funds . for the purpose of opening up the scenic resorts. Only. in that way • could New Zealand’s scenic resorts be ■ brought into line with those in other I -parts of the world. - ■ ■

In regard to irrigation in Central Otago, Mr Todd said he would like to say that the league had done very fine work Mr Macdonald was to be congratulated upon his work in getting the Committee of Inquiry on to the ground. He had taken the matter up in such a manner that the settlers had been satisfield that they would get a square deal. Speaking of Central Otago, he said that

he w*as confident that within 10 or 15 years, with irrigation, the destruction of rabbits and top-dressing Otago would be producing 100 per cent, more than at present. He himself had land carrying 3000 sheep, which last year carried only 2000, and there were hundreds of similar examples throughout Otago and Southland. He felt sure that if Mr Macdonald and Mr Steel kept the seats they held then for a few years longer, and if they were helped on by members, the league would do great work yet. In respect to railway construction, Mr Todd said he was one of those who thought a halt should be made. Road construction should be pushed on, as it was cheaper and more suitable to modern requirements. In conclusion, he congratulated the chairman on having secured the demolition of the old Post Office. It was many years since Mr Peter Barr, as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, commenced the movement for a new Post Office. Things came slowly, but he hoped j that this time next year the foundation stone would have been laid. He felt quite sure that the league would still pursue the matter to a speedy result. He did not think that the league had lost any of its glory or any of its ability to

push Otago along. Mr J. I. Wright expressed his recognition of the valuable service the president and the executive had given during the year. When the league was started it was doubtful in some minds whether it would live, but it was alive to-day and more vigorous than ever. He hoped it would be supported more widely by tin public to allow it to combine its work. Counties and other local bodies should give it their support. The Canterbury League was supported in a very substantial manner by the county councils. There was plenty of work ahead for the league, and if it had a larger treasury it could accomplish more than it was doing at present. At present there was a movement on foot to rate a certain area .to subsidise a steamer service to Melbourne from the

South Island. He did not agree with such a proposal. The Government ought to take the matter in hand, and the league should make it its business to press for this service until it was given. Mr Wright also spoke of the necessity of bringing the railway service more up to date.

Mr C. H. Hayward said it was true that local bodies should contribute more to the league than they did, but as a matter of fact many local bodies were not aware of the work the league w-as doing. The league filled a want in the city that no

other body of men carried out —it drew attention to many requirements, and placed before the Government what it should do. The league had caused the Government to spend a considerable sum not only in the city but in the province. He instanced the irrigation works, the tourist traffic, the advertising of the southern part of New Zealand, and other works in which the league engaged. Mr H. M. M'Kay said he had travelled that day from Wanaka to Dunedin, and he had never seen the roads in such good order. In Bruce County a wonderful change had taken place. This was probably due to the energies of the executive of the league. It was gratifying to see the tremendous strides made in the improvement of roads throughout Otago generally. He urged connection between Makarora and Wanaka. At present the residents depended on boat transport, which only filled the bill to a certain extent, and a road was very necessary. The people of Pembroke appreciated very much the work the league had done in that district. Mr A. Moritzson, who was received with applause, spoke of the value of the scenic attractions of New Zealand. I An enormous amount of money was to be gained from that source. He believed I the Tourist Department was acting diligently in advertising the attractions of I the Dominion, and the growls that are sometimes heard really came from those people who could not “ rough it ” a little. The speaker urged the improvement of a number of tourist routes, and, speaking of the South Island-Melbourne traffic, he. suggested that the Matson I Company might be asked to send its steamers to New Zealand by way of the I southern ports. 1 The report was adopted. ”

FINANCE. Mr J. E. Winsloe introduced the subject of finance and membership. He said that on the completion of his first year as a member of the executive he desired to bring before members a matter that had given him very considerable thought from time to time, and that was the financial nosition of the league. Not only had it concerned him, but also all the members of the executive, and although the matter had been discussed at meetings from time to time, no definite solution of the difficulty had been arrived at in order to place the league on a footing to allow the executive to feel that it could work with freedom without being unduly embarrassed with the weight of financial burdens. It was an unfortunate position for such an important institution, which was doing much good work for the progress and expansion of the province, to be continually up against it (so to speak) owing to limited finance, and he wanted to impress upon members that limited finance meant a limit to scope of operation. The constitution was adopted on September 5, 1918, and much of it was out of date, and should be amended, to meet conditions existing to-day. The constitution had been carefully examined,

and he had pleasure in submitting amendments which were badly needed, in order to stimulate the interest that was desired. The branches had been practically abolished as a non-workable proposition, as it had been found that the work in each centre had been generally left to a few public-spirited individuals. On these branches going out of existence or ceasing to function no serious effort had been made to put something in their place. He hoped this would be remedied, and that the branches would be kept in direct touch with all the league’s activities, that they might combine for the general welfare of the institution. By stimulating interest it would not be long before the whole of the public bodies would be a greater power as part and parcel of the league. Then there was the matter of open quarterly meetings. These could take place in various outside places. Generally the executive meetings took place prior to the open meetings, when remits would be taken and dealt with by local bodies throughout the whole * province. This was not an unwieldy proposition, for they must remember that it constituted only four or five such meetings per anaum, and in the space of a few short years the league would have held a quarterly . meeting in every principal centre of the province. They would find difficulty probably at present to bring local body contributions up to maximum; but by persistent work and concentration opposition would be overcome.

While it was always advisable to secure as many private members as possible, he did not think that they could rely mainly on this source for existence. It was fairly costly to maintain, and the scope and operations of the league did not sufficiently justify the appeal to the individual from year to year. An appeal to the local bodies would be equitable, and all would share in the cost of administration. It should be borne through the rates. Standing committees should be abolished, and committees should be set up for any specific work, such committees to exist until their deliberations were embodied in report and submitted to the executive or to open meeting. When committees were formed for specific work, care should be taken in their selection, and members should be appointed who had a knowledge of tire specific work to be undertaken. It should not be outside the province of the league to appoint any person a member of the committee, if it required such expert assistance and advice. Mr Winsloe was thanked for his remarks, and his suggestions were remitted to the executive for consideration.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr S. B. Macdonald; vicepresidents—Sir Charles Statham, Mr P. R. Sargood, and Mr G. J. Errington; hon. treasurer, Mr H. E. Wilson. The following executive was elected:—Messrs C. Todd, E. Tamblyn, T. K. Sidey, M.P., James Horn, M.P., C. H. Hayward. R. S. Black, R. B. Tennent, H. M‘Dowell Smith, J. W. Munro, J. Inglis Wright, J. Y. Love, J. E. Winsloe, A. P. Aldridge, R. T. Stewart, D. Tannock, G. W. C. Macdonald, and F. Reid. Messrs Barr, Hercus, and Co. were reelected auditors. CROMWELL DEVELOPMENT , COMPANY.

The chairman laid before the meeting a copy of a petition he had received from Cromwell, urging the Government to resume possession of all the. low-lying country in the vicinity of Cromwell and Lowburn, at present under-lease te the Cromwell Development Company. He thought it would be a good thing if the Government took over the land, not be-

cause the present company had not carried out its work or anything of that sort, but because he believed the Government could manage the estate, under tha present irrigation system,.more adequately than it was being managed at the present time. The petition was on the table for anyone to sign. Mr Todd suggested that the league should hold its hand in the matter until it received the report of the commission specially set up to deal with irrigation, with the working of this property, and with other matters. The league ought not to do anything to interfere with the work of the commission. The chairman: Does it deal with this property?

Mr Todd said he believed it did, and it was to sit in Dunedin shortly to consider its conclusions. The matter might .be reviewed after the commission’s report was known. The chairman said, at any rate, the petition was on the ■ table for anyone to sign. DEMOLITION OF ARCADE.

The chairman brought up the question of the proposed demolition of the Arcade. The league, he thought, ought to take the matter up, and advise the citizens to vote one way or the other on the loan proposal. For himself, he believed in the removal of the Arcade, because it would open up a district that ought to have been opened up 25 or 30 years ago. He thought a lead from the league should be given to citizens. Mr Wright said this was a matter that had not been considered by the meeting, and it was too late to bring it up at that stage. It might,be dealt with by the executive.

The chairman said he would bring the question before the executive. VOTES OF THANKS.

Mr L. Deans Ritchie moved that a heart}’ vote of thanks should be accorded to the president and the secretary (Mr W. B. Steel) for the excellent manner in which they had carried out the work of the . league during the past year.—The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Macdonald, on behalf of the league, extended the heartiest thanks to the local members of Parliament for the way in which they had co-operated with the league.- In this connection he would Ikie to mention specially Mr T. K. Sidey. A vote of thanks to the press was carried unanimously.