PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1788, 6 November 1919, Page 5

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. Tho Executive Committee of the Canterbury Progress League met last evening, Mr H. Holland presiding. Tho report of the organiser (Mr P. R. Climie) stated that he had attended meetings at Springston and Amberley regarding questions relating to electrical extensions to the Ellesmere-Springs and Kowai districts. Mr Cliinie recommended that an emphatic protest be entered against the policy of the Public Works Department in proposing to supply local bodies and power boards at their boundaries, instead of at, or near, the chief centres of their districts, where the supply was mainly needed. He also suggested that the question be made the subject of a remit for the next council meeting, and that the combined support of other leagues and similar organisations be sought, in order to oppose such an unfair proposition. "51c had arranged a meeting of representatives of the Selwyn, Malvern and Tawera Counties, at Darfield, with the object of discussing an electrical scheme for those districts. Tho question of taking combined action and the settingup of a Power Board would be considered. Considerable progress was being made with the "good roads" movement. He understood that the Counties' Conference had endorsed the proposed system of unified control of the main highways, although it would not, agree to mandatory powers being granted to any authority outside the local bodies. He regretted that, from a statement recently made by the Prime Minister, the prospect of Progress Leagues receiving financial assistance from the Gov3?nment did not look very promising. He had asked Mr James Craigie, M.P., who had been president of the Timaru Progress and Expansion Leagues' Conference, to approach Ihe Prime Minister, with a view to suitable propaganda work receiving assistance in the way of a subsidy and free postage. With regard to the Christ-church-Invercargill express service, it was hoped that it would be recommenced next month. He would ooiitinne to press the, matter until finality was reached.

At the request of the league, the Minister of Agriculture had agreed to appoint an Agricultural Instructor for Canterbury, the appointment to be made as scon as a suitable man was available. To meet the wishes of the league the Minister had arranged for one of the North Island lecturers to spend a few weeks in the district, lecturing under the auspices of the league. Considerable discission took place concerning the Public Works Department's policy in proposing to carry electrical energy to the boundaries of counties and power districts, instead of to the chief centres of the districts. Mr P. K. Climie yaid that the people in the country districts were feeling verv keenly about the matter. In regard to the EUesmere-Springs electrical scheme, it had been originally understood that the power would be carried right to Leeston. Instead of that, the policy of the Government, as expressed bv the engineer in charge of the electrical branch of the Public Works Department in Christchurch, was now to carry the power to the boundaries only. This meant that about £4OOO would have to be found by the people of the'eounty, and that amount of motey would go n long way towards the reticulation of the district. The new policy of the Government would have the effect of discouraging the formation of large power districts. He suggested that the subject bo dealt with by the council of the league, at its meeting next Wednesday. Mr A. G. Henderson strongly condemned the attitude of the department, and pointed out that the matter was one that would affect every district in the Dominion.

Mr D. G. Sullivan sai.l that a feeling was growing among members of the City Council that they would advance faster if they had provincial control, instead of national control, which meant Wellington control. The prospects of securing an immediate increase in the supply of current from Lake Coleridge was not bright. The City Council had been asked to keep down its demand. It was decided, on the motion of Mr A. G. Henderson:—"That this executive strongly urges that the Public, Works Department is in duty bound to carry electric current to a convenient distributing centre in each power district, and protests against the reported intention of the department to carry the mains no farther thau a county boundary. '' It was also decided, on the motion of Mr A. F. Wright, that the Prime Minister, the Under-Secretary of Public Works, and the Chief Government Electrical Engineer (Mr L. Birks) should be invited to attend the meeting of the council of the Progress League, next Wednesday, to discuss matters relating to the supply of electric power in Canterbury. A resolution was carried, thanking the Minister of Agriculture for his decision in regard to the appointment of an Agricultural Instructor for Canterbury. ' Cold in the Head, did you say? Then lose no time in getting "NAZOL." Marvellous how rapidly that honest remedy shifts a cold. Sixty doses 1/6. .2 Want advts. in The St:x bring buyer and seller together and lead to business. Twelve words fr • 6d.