"NO CORNERING.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16366, 3 March 1921, Page 2

"NO CORNERING.”

M 1 X l STERR AX D PR OGR ESS LEAGUE. A reply was marie at last evening’s meeting of the executive of the Progress League to * statement that the league has ‘cornered r ' various Ministers during visits to Canterbury and ignored members of ParliamentThe president (Mr A. G. Henderson') ' said that- some little- discontent had boon expressed by one or two members of Parliament about, the arrangements made for Mr Massey’s visit. He sympathised with those members of Parliament. because thev did not appreciate the position. There was no quarrel between the league and members of Parliament- Whatever misunderstanding had existed was now cleared away. It was wrong to suggest that the league had acted independently of merohers’of Parliament from the outset. The- league had had the whole-hearted co-operation of members of Parliament. Without it the league would not have got aJon" nearly as fast as it had. The Prime Minister spent three days in Christchurch. One lie spent on unofficial business, taking a rest. Of the other two days, one and a half were devoted to deputations with which members of Parliament were associated. The league had only “ cornered ” the Prime ‘Minister for half a day, and then only because. the Lyttelton Harbour Board and the Chamber of Commerce desired that iho railway yards should be visited. He thought that if the members of Parliament had investigated the position they would not have made complaints against the league. Mr Henderson pointed out that in November, 191*0. Mr Massey accepted an invitation to visit Canterbury later on and spend three or four days on visits with members of the league.

On the motion of Mr A. F. Wright, the meeting placed on record its appreciation of the work carrjed out by the president and the oygammr in 0611'— necblon with tho Prune Minister’s visit.