ADVANCE CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12408, 28 August 1918, Page 6

ADVANCE CANTERBURY.

PROGRESS LEAGUE ACTIVE. A deputation from the Progress League, consisting of Messrs H. Holland, P. It. Climie, H. 1). Acland and L. B. Hart, waited on the Hospital Board this morning, for the purpose of getting into touch with the representatives of the local bodies on the board, _ The Mayor said that the league desired not only to meet members of local bodies, but to introduce the organiser, Mr Clilnie. The need for a league was apparent, and very considorablo success had been achieved. Canterbury had been neglected for years and years, because it could not present a. united Front. Only at the Otira Tunnel ceremony ho had received a telegram from the Auckland Progress League, congratulating tlie Canterbury *' settlers M on getting their long tunnel through, while Auckland, with many short tunnels, could not get them finished. This was the constant attitude of Auckland, whiph was always pushing itself forward and securing grants for public purposes. At the last census, also, the population of ,'tho South Island had increased by 36jt0, and the North Island by 88,000. If,/ a; province was nob progressing It was going back, and ho appealed for a united front from the whole province.. The movement, Mr Holland continued, was nob a city movement, for the cityhad had a substantial increase of population, but lie ventured to suggest that not one of the counties represented at the board had had an increase of population in tlie last six years- As for the Otira tunnel, he thought that the Minister's forecast of two years would nob bo realised, and that it ■would bo four years before the tunnel was completed. In that time the province would lose £400,000 in freight on coal and timber, and tlie Government would lose £200,000 in interest on the undertaking. The league could help the province in a hundred ways, notably, in the provision of hydro-electricity. Mr Acland said" that the country schools had not increased, and the population had decieased, while land and income tax hud leaped up without any return being obtained by the pro. vmco for the ■ increase. Tlie League Wanted to establish; a V Oauterburj conscious ’ feeling, and he hoped the members of the hoard would ' all look very sympathetically on the work of the league. In the matter of roads, the North Island had many Government roads,' while Canterbury had to bear the cost of all roads. The Mayor urged the importance of straining every nerve to secure the extension of electrical reticulation, (in view of the strong pressure being brought to ibear in the North Island to secure equal treatment: Mr Climie haying been introduced to the members of the board, tho deputation withdrew, the chairman stating that ho had no doubt the members would take tho matter into consideration.