SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

Southland Times, Issue 19099, 17 November 1923, Page 5

SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

QUARTERLY MEETING HELD REPORT ON LEAGUE’S ACTIVITIES LOCAL MATTERS ATTENDED TO. The quarterly meeting of the Southland League was held at Otautau yesterday afternoon, when Mr C. J. Brodrick presided over a good attendance. The chairman, in opening the quarterly meeting, said he was pleased to preside over the meeting at Otautau. He then briefly explained the objects of the League, saying they should get together and boost the province. He was a great believer in Southland and its future. To support hie statement he quoted the stock figures recently published and also the land under cultivation. “We have 3,125,000 acres of occupied land,” he continued, “and stand fifth in that for the Dominion. We are also fifth in dairy stock, while we lead in cattle. Next to Canterbury we are second in the sheep statistics for the South Island. If one had time to work out the figures carefull.;-, we would probably lead in many classes. We have a great province and should boost it on every occasion.” (Applause.) A comprehensive report of the quarter’! work was presented which stated a considerable amount of publicity work had been accomplished since last meeting, and that pictures of Southland would be hung at the Empire Exhibition. The Government was calling for tenders for road formation from Lumsden to the Lakes, a direct result of the recent visit of the Minister of Tourists Resorts to Southland. Better telephone communication throughout the province had been promised, but the League was still endeavouring to obtain a direct line to Queenstown. The visit of Mr F. B. Smith was mentioned, together with the protest meeting which was held at that time. Other work accomplished during the quarter such as postal deliveries, visit of parliamentary members and lecture tour were touched upon, all of which have Iwen previously dealt with by the League. With regard to finance the report stated: The local bodies of the province are again giving their support to the League, all excepting five having forwarded their contributions for this year. We would like these bodies to let us have their contributions as soon as possible. As it now stands, the position of finance for this year is at follows: Credit balance at bank .. £96 710 Local bodies contributions and private subscriptions owing 120 0 0 Total revenue receivable £216 7 10 The expenditure necessary to carry the League through the present financial year is estimated at approximately £3OO. It will be seen, therefore, that approximately £lOO more is required for the League to carry on its activities for the year, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the Southland community as a whole will continue to give that whole-hearted support which is deserved. MONTHLY MEETING. Prior to the quarterly meeting the ordinary monthly meeting of the executive was held, there being present—Messrs C. J. Brodrick (chair), W. McChesney, A. Russell, Gearing, R. M. Strang, and J. S. Baxter. The Nightcaps Town Board advised that Messrs J. Clapp and D. Sinclair had been appointed to represent it on the League executive. The letter further asked that the League assist the Board to keep the Wairio-Nightcaps line open for traffic. The Prime Minister advised that he was laying the request of the League for a visit of the cruiser-squadron to Bluff before the Admiralty. The Hibernian Band applied for assistance towards the cost of sending it to the Ashburton contest. The chairman said that the League had a struggle to pay its own liabilities and had no funds to donate to the band. TJie individual members would no doubt assist the band, which was doing good work to advertise Invercargill. The Otago Expansion League suggested that, as both the Southland and Otago Leagues were interested in pushing the southern end of the island, they should combine in issuing a booklet advertising Otago and Southland at the Empire Exhibition.

The chairman said that they were always willing to co-operate with Otago, but they did not wish to be taken under "Otago’s wing altogether. The matter was referred to the chairman and secretary with power to act. A letter was received from the Invercargill Borough Council enclosing an appeal from Mr Gunson, Mayor of Auckland, for assistance in furthering the campaign in support of the League of Nations by arranging dates for Mr Grimwood’s lectures. Mr Strang moved that the letter be referred back to the Council as that body was the one which should handle the arrangements. The chairman said if that were done it would probably mean that the matter would drop. Mr Baxter then moved an amendment that the League take the matter up and make the necessary arrangements. Mr Strang, in reply, said in addressing the letter to the Council, the Mayor of Auckland was of the opinion that it wm the right body to handle the arrangements. The League would willingly co-operate with the Council. The letter was referred back to the Council. The complaint of the Otautau Hardware Company re delay in railing goods was referred to the local District Traffic Manager for an explanation. Mr Lumsden said a letter had been received which stated the delay was due to an inspection of the goods which took from the Bth to the 18th of the month. It was decided to support the R.SA. in its endeavour to obtain a Southland representative for the War Pensions Appeal Board.