PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16424, 12 May 1921, Page 4

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The executive of the Canterbury Progress league met last evening, .Ur A. G. Henderson presiding. There was a good Attendance. A welcome was extended to Air "NV. E. Lcuflley on his return from South Africa. Congratulations were, extended to Mr .!. Starry on his election as chairman of tho L\tfcelton Harbour Board. In expressing his thanks, Air Loadley stressed the need for a town hall for Christchurch, and said that tho league should concentrate on getting good roads throughout Canterbury, and the electrification of tho railways, especially the ChristchurchLxttelLon line. New Zealand had a great reputation abroad. The very laet that they had a surplus of £'•>,000,000 (loud laughter.) had a great effect. He promised to work as hard for Hie league in future as ho had before he went away. A welcome was also extended to Air AVill Lawson, organiser of tho New Zealand Forestry League, and organiser for tho Marlborough Progress Committee, who invited the chairman, organiser and members of the league to attend a public, meeting to “ boost ” the Marlborough Committee’s work, especially in the collection of funds. FABAI SCHOOLS. Making a. verbal report on the proposed farm school. Air G. H. Holford. said that in company with Air Climie, he visited Lincoln College, but. although the authorities there were in sympathy with the. proposal the difficulties regarding the accommodation for the students were insurmountable at present. It was now proposed to form local I arm schools in country districts. Already the Dnrfiekl people had suggested holding such a school. Mr Henderson said that it was somewhat disappointing to have the scheme dropped for this year, but the difficulties hud proved greater than expected- When on tho West (.‘oast, he had considered tho possibility of exchange of visits from West Coast farmers to Canterbury, and from Canterbury farmers to the Coast, so that each could study the other’s farming. When the railway went through, perhaps some such scheme could he given effect. The report was adopted. HYDRO-ELECT R rCTTY. Air Henderson said with regard to the Harper River diversion, that 1 ho sub-committee had met tlio Canterbury members of Parliament. Th© season was not opportune to urge the Minister to take definite action now, but later they could urge him to do so. The Public Works Department recognised that the work must be completed before the spring. It was time the league had a settled policy regarding hydro-electricity supply in Canterbury. They should have a definite objective and a programme to work to. At the same time a demand must be developed for electric current, and the Canterbury people must l>e- educated with respect to the possibilities and uses of electricity lor various purposes. Regarding the committee it was proposed to set up. representing the whole of Canterbury, th© Tramway Board had agreed to its officers assisting the committee. but unfortunately the City Council look another view, and the league was not to have the assistance of the City Engineer. However, tho league must go on with the work. Th© time had also com 4 when another move should he made regarding tho establishment of a School of Forestry in Canterbury. He did not know why tho Government' had hung up the matter so long. Air Henderson subsequently moved that a committee he set up with power to add to its number, to consider the whole question of hydro-electricity in Canterbury. He sakl that representatives of all Canterbury local bodies should ho asked to servo on th© committee. including the City Council. The country people were looking to the league to help them to get electric facilities on the farms. If they dropped pushing the hydro-electric scheme they might ns well drop tho league (Hear, hear). Air IT. «T. Ma.rrincr criticised tho parochial attitude of tho City Council, and said that one or two members of tho league should go to the council, arid explain what the league was out for. Air W. At. Tycrs urged that bodies such as tho Industrial Association should be represented on the commit teeAir W. J. .Tonkin said that his recent visits with members of the Tariff Commission to local factories had shown him th© necessity for such a committee. Air J. Long ton said that the committee ahould also consider th© advisability of harnessing th© "YVaimakariri, so that a stand-by plant could be available. Air Henderson, said that he had not considered the possibilities of the Waimakariri, but wanted a general survey of the Lake Coleridge scheme and tho likely demand for current. Take a county like Malvern. Was tin; Government going to wait before a demand was created, before arranging a supply of electricity? Air W. E. Leadley said that the City Council should be approached again. Air G. Shipley said that the system of h\dro-etectric supply wanted straightening out, particularly as regards control. Air • ). A. Fle&her said that th© City Council should not. he accused of parochialism, as but for the council, there would he no hydro-electric supply at all. The City Council was the largest consumer the Public Works had at the present time, and hut for that, demand, the Government, would not have, entered on the Lake Coleridge system. The financial stringency would prevent much extension during the next, four years. The duplication of th© Lake Coleridge system demanded a greater water supply. They must look at things as they were. The council was an elected body with its duty to the ratepayers Tho Progress League was an advisory body, and was not the Provincial Government It had not the responsibilities of tlie City Council and other local bodies. JTe would suggest that a committee should be formed to confer with the Electricity Committee of the council. In dew of the fact that the City Council was pressing th© Government to keep its contract? to supply more‘'power, the council should not b© accused of parochialism, and he deprecated such comments. Air Henderson said that if tlie City Council agreed to appoint representatives to the committee, that committee could approach th© Electricity Committee of the council. Any proposal of the league that ran counter to the interests of the city could not hop© to be carried out At this stage, all they had to do was to find out what th© position really was. They must know what, they were after. The committee should be able to gather valuable information, and could report from time to time. The motion was agreed to lyGENERAL. Th© Canterbury Automobile Association wrote asking for representatives of the league to meot the association’s Roads Committee. Messrs J. A. Flesher and P. R. Climie were appointed. The Railway Department wrote with regard to tho suggested motor service between the railway heads between Christchurch and Blenheim, that it must have regard to the cost of operation and th© traffic returns received from a given section of the line. The Picton line had absorbed 98 per cent of the gross earnings, and no increase in train mileage could he

made without prospect of financial los?. However, alterations of the* time table would be considered. Mr Climie said that if the motor companies now travelling along the routo between the rail-heads could be persuaded to make the connections it would pay them. The animal meding of the league was fixed for Wednesday, June 1.5, to commence at 1 p.m.