DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16798, 31 March 1919, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

BRANCH FOE TIMAEU. At a meeting i u the Arcade C'afo -nfrt iriday nignt, to form a Timaru branch, of the South Canterbury Development League, Mr U. E, H. Tr-pn presided over a small gathering of business "men. Mr Tripp said he had alwavs taken nn interest in South Canterbury, and m the Development League. Thev must push ahead in every wav now if they vere to pay their way. Thev iiiid to grew things. The Ashburton r.iswict trade ought to come to Timaru bring nearer to Timaru than to Christ- < hurch : but there was onlv one bridge over the Eangitata, and "it was the only big river he knew of that had ■Lidy one bridge. Ashburton men would do the-r business here if onlv there was a bridge on the main road, iho League ought to push this matter, .;.nclurge the Government and the comity Councils to get a bridge erected. Geraldine would benefit greatlv h , e Tlma ™ \ .-md P. Show imand the League snould help the Association in this matter. There |-ore many mdnstrfes m South Canterbury that the League ought to set to jnfike d-solays of their WO rk at the S.iow. Re took a great interest in -mall holdings He had travelled to -Ueiimaik to study this svsteni, and ho was struck with what that small counts produced. T!ie League should n-o into the matter of developing the small holding system in South Canterbnrv •list.r rrt. Tt was a burning , question lev t),e whole of the South Island. LAND SETTLEMENT. Mr G T. Dawson then read a paper on the land settlement question. Mr J. An'stey. M.P., said that the oojects or the League were of the greatest- \ importance, and he was with tha League m securing more production, the volume of which was now decreasing instead of increasing. They had an enormous indebtedness to meet, and they must produce- more and import less, to pay their way. They were importing things they did net want. They had some of the. best land m the world, they had men ,of brains, and they should be able to produce enough to satisfy their wants. They imported many tilings they could turn out in New Zealand. They were tunrng out leather goods as good as the imported article, and other things could bs equally wel! manufacture'! in the Domiiroii. Tliry had tallow to make candles, wool to make clothes. The T. things were nrodue?d to export to ?ie!r> [inv off their indebtedness. He had paid a good deal of attention to land

settlement questions. In tli<. Hous:' there was. 110 outside help in this, matter. Other members would not take up this important question. They siiould •I<> more than mere talk about land settlement. Mr Anstey gave instances of where the Government had tailed to take up land to settle men in a small way. He. hoped that some outside pressure would be brought to bear on thenij and that town men would assist those fighting for settlement. '

Referring to the electric scheme. Mr Anstey said that there was a tremendous power to bo got from the Wa taki liver. It was going to cost £14,000,000 tc secure all the electric power they would need hero.' The North island, he thought, had first chance of the next electrical movement. Tf they did not wake up now, they would have to sit down till the North Island scheme was completed. The League's organiser (Mr C. -J. Lciinon') had, said Mi" Anstey, don? much good work in the country districts on behalf of tlie League. An ,interest : ng meeting was held in Tima.ni recently at which much interesting information was placed before the meetiug. and papers of great interest were read. Tn conclusion, Mr Anstey said lie hoped that all clashes' would assist the League in its work. Town, and country should pull 'together. Mr Lennon briefly explained the objects of the meeting, and deplored the small attendance. An executive was formed of those present, and a. hearty vote of lhanks was passed to Mr Tripp for having presided. _^^__„ r _^__„