SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

Southland Times, Issue 17698, 9 July 1914, Page 2

SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

MEETING AT HUMS DEN. One i '! the most enthusiastic and satisfactory meeting- vet held in connection with the I'or-.iT .10.. of branches of I lie Southland League took place at I.iimsili.ii on Tuesday night, when there was an ixcelent attendance of residents of the town and settlers from surrounding districts. '’lie speeches were listened io with rapt attention and wore Ireqne.ntl y punctuated witli hearty applause In introducing the delegates, who included Hesses E, St. .1. boughnan, E. K. V.’i'son, John Gilkhson, and (.'has. Campbell (general secretary), the chairman (Alt' A. Small, sent'.), highly commended the aims and objects of (lie licaguo and .assured the meeting that in his opinion the very best thing that Lumsden could do was to form a strong brancli. The representatives of the council spoke cn general lines respecting the in valuable assistance the Southland .League would render to the community as a whole, and the rules and constitution were carefully explained. Mr I ,ou gh nan quoted the reports of the caretaker at the Southland Court at the Auckland Exhibition as clcarl'- indicating the amazing ignorance vhicU existed in the north concerning Southland. lie concluded by stating that the League would distribute carefully prepared literature, which would correct the impression that this province was in any sense "foggy, boggy. South land.'’ —Apple use. Mr l.oftus S. .Tones. Liinisclon. said that it was a matter for congratulation that such an organ* sat ion bad at last been established in Southland ami upon such sound democratic lines. He considered that Southland, for its size, was the linest all-round producing district in the dominion. He referred In Hie great possibilities of fostering the fruit industry In Hie Hunisden district, and stated that an expert from Tasmania had informed him that Garston could easily he made the finest apple growing district : n the world. Mr .lottos concluded an interesting speech by moving. "That a Lnmsden brancli of Hie Southland League he formed forthwith.” In seconding the motion, Mr Cunningham. a recent arrival from Canterbury, stated that tie most heartily approved of this organisation. Being a Canterbury man bo could speak witli infinite knowledge as to the ignorance which existed there regarding Southland. People up north will not believe that there was such a magnificent country and such a bracing climate. However, seeing was believing and those of his friends who had visited him in bis now home expressed utter surprise at the potentialities of Southland, ft was a revelation to them. —Applause Mr J. McArthur, «enr.. Lumstlen. also spoke in the warmest terms regarding the League. The motion was carried unanimously and the following were appointed the first, committee —Messrs Loftus .tones, .1. T>. McArthur, sent'., A. Small, senr.. Cunningham. C. A. Allan. S. Griffiths. J. McEctridgc, A. Small, junr., W. Roxburgh, Hr Ed gar, G. .Johnson, George Small, -t. McArthur, junr., Joseph Croshie. A. Macalister. D. Eraser, Arch. Maea lister R. Eothcringham, J. Macalister. I’. Malone, Wm. Chartres. senr.. A. Brooks. Wm. Chartres. junr., and E. Soper. The (list meeting of the committee oi the Lnmsden brancli was held after the public meeting, when the following officers were appointed Chairman. Mr A. Small, sour: vice-chairman, Mr S. Griffiths: secretary, Mr A. Macalister; representative on the council, Mr Loftus Jones.