CANTERBURY PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12688, 9 July 1919, Page 6

CANTERBURY PROGRESS LEAGUE.

EFFICIOiICY COMMITTEES fO HELP.

Member $ of- the various Efficiency Board Committee of Advice met in conference at the Provincial Council Chambers this morning to consider a proposal that the committees should' continue their existence as committees of the Canterbury Progress League. Mr F. Horrell was elected chairman. Mr 0. A. Frostick, Efficiency Commissioner, who v. - unable to Ire'present, sent a letu A j) which he recommended that Uio various Committees ’of advice should lie .affiliated with-the Progress LeagueAir Cooper said it would be a crime to allow the committees to go out of existence. _ They had rendered very great assistance indeed. As committees of the Progress League they could render great help m the strenuous period ahead of ns. All the committees bad agreed to continue their labours, and he hoped that they would join their efforts to those of the Canterbury Progress League. Mr G. H. HoJford'mentioned that in .England war agricultural committees, corresponding to a groat extent with the New Zealand Committees of advice, had been existent, and That Mr Lloyd George had expressed a desire that their services should he available hi <ld}-.ling with post-war problems. A motion that the committees continue their activities and assist the Pi ogress League ’u every way possible was moved by Mr G- Armstrong, of Akivroa. Mr Armstrong said that the tact that no land had been acquired at. Banks Peninsula for discharged soldiers settlements was regrettable, 'I here would be a splendid opportunity tor putting the men on the laud there nlicd ; ms hptorf? long would be necGS’sary in the general interests of the country, large estates on the Peninsula were, cut up. Mr Cooper said, in reply to a. question. that the National Efficiency Board would soon go out of existence in its present capacity. Mt P. R. Glimie, the league’s,organiser, expressed ins gratification at the suggestion. The league, be said, would bo the reverse :>f overhearing in its attitude, but it was most desirable that the bodies should work together in a manner which would eliminate any overlapping. Captain E-. M’Cartney (Tni Tapu)' expressed the opinion that a central organisation which all the committees could hinge on was desirable.

Mr Holford replied that the Primary Industries Committee of the League would act in this capacity. The Agricultural and Pastoral Committee would use its best efforts to aid the committees.

The motion was, after further discussion, carried without dissent.

ANNUAL MEETING OF LEAGUE.

The first annual meeting of the Canterbury Progress League was held in the Provincial" Council Chambers today,’ Air H. Holland presiding Over an attendance of some seventy delegates. , The chairman, in welcoming the delegates, said it was fitting that the meeting should he held in the Provincial Council Chambers, which were really property of Canterbury. In the course of his annual address the chairman said that many great events had happened since the league last met—notably the signing of peace. He was sure members would rejoice with him at the ending of the great /conflict. He dealt with the league’s action in undertaking the delivery of country mails, stating that the league’s thanks were due to its organiser. Air Climie, and also to the proprietors ’of the local newspapers. In many cases the service had proved more satisfactory than the Department’s service- As a result of the league's activities sevef a [ electric power boards had been established in Country districts, thus enabling the country people to secure electricity the same as the town resicteii'ts.

The financial statement, which has al uV? published, was adoptedMr Flcsher, in moving the adoption ° f report, said that the league’s credit _ balance was about £IBO, after providing for all commitment?. Mr M. Kennedy, on behalf of the •Ashley County branch, moved —"That a land subdivision a ininittes bo formed te collect evidence as to areas ;n Canrerbury suitable for subdivision." Mr Kennedy said that the subdivision of the large estates must be undertaken. In Auckland the holdings Trero only about half the size of those in Canterbury. That was one reason why progres sin Canterbury was so slow. A bad been carried recently by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce deprecating the aggregation of land m file North Island. If that were nccessiry in the North Wand, where the holdings were only half the size of tlio.se in Canterbury, it was much more necessary here. The speaker referred to the fact that the Glenmark estate bad not been purchased by the Government owing to the price being Is Bd an aero over whiit it was prepared to pay Had there been a local committee to take the matter up and advise the Government the estate might have been secured for settlement and the country saved some thousands of pounds, as the owner had subsequently sold one portion of it for what the Government; could have bought the whole estate for.

Mr Gee (Cheviot) said that if such a committee were set up it would he of groat assistance to the Land Purchase Boa id. There was any amount of land in Canterbury suitable for subdivision. if the committee could look round Canterbury and recommend suitable estates to the Government it would be doing a good work. * Mr Horrell referred to the fact that the league would now have the benefit of the advice of the Efficiency Board’s committees of advice, which had decided to affiliate with the league as committees- of advice. There was plenty of land round Llangiora eminently suitable for settlement. 50 acres of'which would support a. man. The trouble was that the wrong class of buyer was securing the land. Instead of the small farmer ib was tho big man who was •getting it.

Mr Gihha-Stauton also.! supported the remit, stating that there was plenty of land round Aiiiberley suitable for wheat growing, which had never had a plough _nut into it. Mr Ch I. Jennings pointed out that recently there had been twenty-four estates in the North Island offered for selection by soldiers as against four in the South. Island, none of these being in Canterbury. The speaker had made inquiries from the - Canterbury Land Board and bad been told that there would be twelve estates in the South Inland, opened up in the near future, but there was no indication as to where this was to be done. An effort should he made to do away with the present unsatisfactory state of affairs, under which our young men were drifting away to the North Island. Mr AY; E. Lcndley, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, said ho would like to see the Land Purchase Board done away with and a, land purchase committee fur each province established. The returned soldiers were not getting' a .fair deal. It was thmthat Canterbury woke up and saw to if that better provision was made for soldiers desiring to go on the land. That there was a reafland hunger was evidenced by the number of applicants for land at the various ballots. Mr C- Renn said there was a land hunger not only On the part of returned soldiers but also on the part of other citizens. The remit did' not go far enough, in the speaker’s opinion.

Mr Q, H. Holtord, convener of the league’s Committee dh Primary Industries, suggested that- as the .league’s Oommiteo on Primary Industry would act in conjunction with tlie Efficiency Board's committee of advice, it could do te hwork of the suggested committee, in conjunction with the' Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr J. M’Alpine considered that it would bo better for a small-committee, with .special qualifications, to be set up to deal with the matter.

Mi - Holford said he would be prepared to set'up a, small committee, as suggested, from the Primary Industries Committee. • - The remit was carried, and Air Holford was appointed convener of the committee. -

It was decided on the motion of Mr C. Renn—-“That the council affirms the availability of land in Canterbury for subdivision, and urges the Government to immediately take steps to provide land for small farmers. ! *

FRUIT FARMING FOR SOLDIERS. Mr J, R. Wilkinson (Ashley) moved —

“That tlie council affirms the desirability, and makes inquiries into methods, of providing orchard sections for returned soldiers. ’’

The mover referred to the possibilities of fruit-growing as an occupation for returned soldiers. Mr W. Iff. Leadley said he was satisfield there' was a demand amongst returned men for fruit farming. He suggested that- the number of men prepared to take up fruit farming should’ be ascertained by means of newspaper advertisements before any scheme were put ill hand. Mr J. J. Longton (Christchurch) pointed out that an orchard farm had to he worked for several years before it showed any profit. He considered the Industries Committee should consider the extension of the industry here though returned soldiers should not bo placed on orchard areas unless thev were provided for tor at least six years. Mr Gihbs-Stanton said that a returned soldier would have to combine bee-keeping and poultry faming with fruit fanning in order to make a living. Mr Gearing said that as far as t-ho Lohurn" district was concerned the returned soldiers were satisfied that they could make a living by fruit farmingMr W. Goss (Christchurch) said that the Repatriation Board had considered the matter and had not been able to recommend the industry for returned soldiers, for the reason put forward by Mr Longton. Mr Longton said he did not wish to give the impression that fruit fanning was not suitable for returned men. What he meant was that men should not be put on bare land; if they were put into raving orchards the scheme Would be all right The remit was referred to the committee set np by the league to deal with the question of land purchase and subdivision. COUNTRY MAIL SERVICES.

The league’s organiser, Mr P. R. Oliime, outlined the league’s activities in connection with the institution of the country mail services, stating that it had been made possible by the assistance given by tne morning and evening newspapers. "With reference to the telegram sent by the Minister .to the league, Air Climie said he felt sure the Minister would not have sent .it if he had been aware : qf the real state of affairs. As a insult of a, conference held yesterday with Air Alorris. first assistant secretary of the Pbst and Telegraph Department, the speaker said ho was sure matters would be satisfactorily straightened out and if Air Atom's’s recommendations to the Department were put into, effect the cost to the league would he‘only, about £5 or £5 10s a week, as against the estimated coat of £100; Air Climie then outlined the proposed extension of the league’s mail services, details of which have already been publishedOn the motion of Air G. Hall, Air Climie’s action with reference to the institution of mail services was confirmed. and he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.