OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 69

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League was held on Tuesday evening. Mr G. J. Errington (president) was in the chair. The members present were Messrs C. H. Hayward, G. W. C. Macdonald, E. Tamblyn, Ivor Carr, W. J. Winefield, F. Reid, A. Smiley, and J. Inglis Wright. An invitation from the Otago Officers’ Club to attend a. lecture on Thursday evening was accepted. The eecretary reported the result of his visit to Wellington, and the interview with the Minister of Railways in connection with the Sunday services on the Port Chalmers line. A detailed replj- to the points raised by the league on behalf of the harbour-side communities had been promised by the Minister at an early date. Correspondence in regard to the regional town planning from Dunedin City Corporation was read, together with a’letter from the Chamber of Commerce. In this connection, members expressed themselves as strongly opposed to the partition of the Historic province of Otago in the manner proposed by the director of town planning, contending that portions of the country which have been so long associated with the province should remain under new dispensation. Regret was expressed by members at the failure to meet the chiefly interested local bodies at previous meetings, but the opinion was voiced that a determined effort would still be made to remedy that mistake, and bring the new boundary into keeping with the original one. The action of tlie president was endorsed heartily by the meeting.

The question of the Melbourne steamer sei vice-came up in connection with correspondence from the Southland League and from Mr J. M. Fisher, of Hobart, who is still endeavouring to interest the Island State in the service. Hopes were entertained some time ago that the clause ot the federal Navigation Act, which preTT n / et L the calling of the steamer at Hobart might be removed to the general benefit, but, unfortunately, this has not been secured. Mr Fisher, however, is confident that continuous petitions will in the end result in a better understanding, and the reinstatement of a service mutually beneficial to New Zealand and Tasmania.

A few weeks ago the league forwarded a suggestion from the Mayor of Dunedin in regard to the entrance to the new Post Office, and a detailed reply w Oni n Mln:ster of Public Works (Mr ■ B ;r Ta ’N erner) was read to the meeting. Mr Taverner pointed out that from the architectural point of view it would be preferable to retain the main entrance in the centre of the Princes street front--1 lat tI J? layout required by the I ost Office could not be advantageously created if the main entrance were at the corner of Liverpool street. Under the circumstances, he regretted that the suggestion of Ins Worship cannot be given practical effect to. A letter from the Port Chalmers Boiough Council, regarding the wharf charges imposed by the Otago Harbour board, was considered, along with the statement received from the Otago Harbour Board on the same subject.—After full consideration the league decided that a matter of such importance to the two bod es could best be overcome by a joint meeting of representatives of the two bodies when the details inseparable from such a subject could be calmly discussed, and the differences between them adjusted.

Question of the date when the electrical energy will be available from the Waitaki power station was mentioned bv the president in connection with a report from Canterbury, which is sufferin'* at the present moment from short supply “°ui the Lake Co eridge powerhouse. Canterbury representatives urge that further effort should be made to speed up the work on the river station so that another source of power may be available for South Canterbury and North Otago m the event of a recurrence of the tiouble at Lake Coleridge. As Dunedin city is now interested in the Waitaki source, as well as the northern section of the Otago Power Board, it was resoh’ed to write the Minister calling his attention to these facts and asking for ffistMlaHom ° f SPPed conlpletin « th e

The question of the restoration of the roads on the West Coast, damaged by earthquake, was discussed, and the committee felt that an injustice was bein~ perpetrated on the South Island seeiim that the available money for the rein” statement of these roads was being drawn from the highways fund. In the case of a national disaster of this magnitude, the cost should, to a great extent, be borne by the whole Dominion, and it was not yet certain that any money would be voted from the consolidated fund for this purpose. The heavy drain upon the highway funds would leave a smaller sum available for reading improvement in the South Island, and the consequence would be that subsidies to counties would be greatly reduced and the amount given by the highways fund would be disproportionate to the heavy taxation imposed upon motorists for that purpose. The sympathies of the league are decidedly with the local bodies and the motorists, and they will gladly co-operate in whatever action is deemed essential to restore the balance. The question of the reinstatement of the Niger Hut had already been before the league, who have made representations to the Minister in that direction, and the secretary reported that he had interviewed Mr Clinkard, the general manager of the Tourist Department, while in Wellington. Unfortunately, there is no money available this session for the purpose indicated, but hopes are entertained that next year a grant will be available. The public-spirited offer of the members of the Tramping Club to transport the material and erect the hut free of charge to the Government w’as commended, and the Minister will be again asked favourably to consider this when preparing his Estimates for next year. The league is convinced that the opening up of tb.e magnificent and almost unknown scenic charms of the Aspiring district will be greatly benefited by the erection of this hut, and eventually, that a track of unwonted charm could be opened up via this route and Loch Negar into the Upper

Dart A alley, thus adding another charming circular tour to those in existence in the hinterland.