PROGRESS LEAGUE'S QUESTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19814, 4 December 1919, Page 3

PROGRESS LEAGUE'S QUESTIONS.

REPLIES OF THE CANDIDATES, Decently the Canterbury Progress Lf'aguo sent a series of questions to all candidates tor North Canterbury constituencies. The replies were rend at a meeting .of the league's executive last evening. The. questions, which were asked in order to ascertain views and standpoint in regard to matters affecting the welfare ol the province, read ns lows:--L Aro yon jut, pared, if elected to Parliament, to work and vote for the speedy completion of the East and ANest; Coast railway? 2. Aro yon prepared to work and vole for the. on tension of the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric scheme, and tor the initiation of other hydro-electric power schemes in the province? 3. Arc you prepared to work and vote for the removal of the causes of complaint in the working of the Christ-cluirch-Lytteltoii railwayP A. Are you prepared to urge and to promote development ot a ttrst-class Department of Industries ami Commerce? o. Aro you prepared to insist that more land shall be thrown open in Canterbury for settlement by returned soldiers? 3. Will yon, if elected, undertake, to support the demands formulated by the. league as the outcome ot its inquiries and discussions, such demands being of a non-party character, and expressing the views of a, clear majority of all the delegates to the league's courier!? Mr L. Al. Tsitt replied "yes” to each question except the last. He was not prepared, be said, to give a blank cheque. Mr J. M 'Combs. Mr J. Hobertson, Air W. J. Dickie, Mr David .[ones. Air H. T. Armstrong, and the Hon W. N’osworthy also said “yes” to the first five and “ho” to number six. Mr 11. Holland. Air W. R. Deverenx. Air 11. AI. Jones (Ashburton), and Mr Morgan Williams said “yes” to every question. Air 0. Witty bad replied that he would answer every question on the public platform. Air D. Buddo had replied that all the questions would have "my best, attention under the beat circumstances.” Air 0. Barclay bad not given a definite reply. All JO. .1. Howard bad replied in humorous strain as follows:--(.1) A T cs and I favour the men getting bigbct pay: C2) Yes: (3) Of course I am.; i. D Yes; (5) Sure thing; 05) No. No open cheques with me. The chairman LMr A. G. Henderson) laid tfiat the replies indicated that these prospective and aspiring nieurjers recognised what the league was doing for the good ol Canterbury. At the same lime, he thought that no man who gave a. few minutes thought, to the matter should hesitate to answer ■•yes” to the sixth question. The league could not formulaic a. policy on any important question without a lull discussion, perhaps extending over many weeks or even months, and the decision arrived at must represent ihc clear opinion of the people of Canterbury. The aim of Hie league was (bat they should bare complete unanimity and drive ahead itt one definite direction for the good of tho province. The league was not likely to ask any man to rote against his conscience, and it was not asking anything in the nature, of a blank cheque. He was sorry thai so many of the candidates had treated the question as they hud.