SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

Southland Times, Issue 18934, 22 September 1920, Page 5

SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

TOWN COUNCIL’S SUPPORT ENLISTED. CONTRIBUTION OF £IOO. A deputation from the Southland League consisting of Messrs A. W. Rodger, H. W. Royds, Fowler, H. F. Drewc, W. R. Riddell, J, Crosby Smith and C. Campbell waited on the Town Council last evening for the purpose of requesting the Council to contribute to the funds of the League. Mr Rodge.r stated that the League had been in existence since 1914, and up to the present had been dependent on voluntary contributions. Other similar bodies had been formed since the League and were in existence in almost every district from Southland to the North of Auckland. The Southland League, like other organisations of it.s kind, had used its influence to have an amendment made to the Act authorising local bodies to contribute to its funds. The Dunedin City Council had voted £3OO to the body acting in the Otago district and the Timaru Council had donated £SO to the South Canterbury Progressive League. The .tonsritution of the Southland League had Ucen altered so as to give local authorities greater representation on the League Council than had been the ca*e hitherto. Each meal authority would have a member for every £2O contributed, and the League felt very strongly the value of ho.ng associated with the local bodies in any effort they made to advance the interests, of the province. They wanted to dispel the feeling that had existed, at least since he (Mr Rodger) had been in Southland, between town and country and if they were successful in that aim they would confer a benefit on the whole community. In view of what local bodies in other centres were doing, he honed that, the consideration of the matter by (he Council would make it feasible for any councillor to become a member of the League.

The question raised by the deputation came up for discussion later on in the evening, when the Mayor stated that there was no doubt that the League had done a wonderful amount of good. Southland had benfited and would continue to benefit from its operations. Councillor Mackrell suggested that the matter should be referred to the Finance Committee so that the Council might be given some idea of what its proportion would be.

Councillor Martin moved that, the Council should contribute £IOO,

Councillor Blake seconded the resolution, ■.vhich, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously.