SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

Southland Times, Issue 21580, 18 December 1931, Page 8

SOUTHLAND LEAGUE

LAST MEETING OF YEAR.

WAKATIPU STEAMER SERVICE.

The last meeting for the year of the Southland League was held last evening when Mr W. Hinchey presided over an attendance of Messrs C. S. Longuet, C. Campbell, A. le H. Hoyles, S. Ritchie, W. McChesney, A. S. Russell, R. D. Newth, J. Robertson, A. E. Willett and A. E. Wish. Letters were received from the Bluff Harbour Board, the Invercargill City Council, the Lake County Council, and the Wallace County Council expressing approval of the decision of the league to dispense with the usual half-yearly meeting.

A letter from the clerk of the Stewart Island County Council to the president stated: “At a meeting of my council held on Thursday, November 26, the chairman, Mr R. C. Hicks, conveyed to the members the very important part you played in bringing about a settlement with regard to the Stewart Island ferry service. My council wishes me to convey to you its gratitude and appreciation of the valuable service you rendered in this direction and also wishes to express appreciation of the very active part you have taken to have the cable repaired.” Mr Hinchey said the work done was mainly carried out by Mr A. S. Russell. The general manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department (Mr W. Clinkard) wrote stating that he believed the Railways Board had recently had the subject of the Lake Wakatipu steamer service under consideration. “While Ido not know that any decision has been made,” the letter continued, “I hope that the board will be able to do something in the way of providing a service satisfactory to all parties, especially during the tourist season.” A letter from the General Manager of Railways regarding the same matter stated that it would receive further consideration.

Still another letter stated that the Earnslaw had taken up regular running on the service.

The president expressed satisfaction at what had been done. Mr Wish moved that the department responsible should be approached and asked to place restrictions on the camping areas in the Te Anau district with a view to assisting in the avoidance of bush fires in that area.

Mr Hinchey said that the Motor Association had already moved in the matter and he was of the opinion that all the league would require to do would be to decide to support the Motor Association and the Conservator of State Forests in any precautionary measures. This course was agreed to, and Mr Wish was appointed to represent the league in a conference with the Motor Association and the Conservator of State Forests.

Mr Campbell suggested that Dr N. G. Trotter, of Riverton, should be invited to attend the next meeting of the league and give an address on his trip overseas. This suggestion received the endorsement of all members present. The question of the state of the Bluff road was raised by Mr Wish. The matter was discussed for a few minutes and was then dropped, it being agreed that the County Council was doing its best to keep the road in order. The Director of Town Planning was returning to New Zealand shortly, Mr Campbell said, and he suggested that the league should press to have the question of regional boundaries settled. Mr Hinchey said the Town Clerk had a considerable amount of correspondence on the matter and he suggested that the secretary should go into the question with him. This course was agreed to. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Campbell, that the league should congratulate the Southland Aero Club on having secured the South Island Air Pageant for Southland. During the evening Mr H. S. Cordery addressed the meeting on the admission of Asiatics to New Zealand, and said that Asiatics, apart from temporary visits, were only admitted by special permit from the Minister of Customs, which permit in practice was very rarely, if ever, given. In reply to a question Mr Cordery said that the poll tax of £lOO was still enforced.

On the motion of the president Mr Cordery was accorded a vote of thanks for accepting the league’s invitation to be present and for his illuminating address. At the conclusion of the meeting the president expressed seasonal greetings to members and Mr Russell replied on behalf of members.