PROGRESS LEAGUE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS SOUTH WESTLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 14

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS SOUTH WESTLAND.

“I don’t retract one word I said regarding the matter,” said Mr G. H. Judd at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League, when replying to a letter from the Westland Committee of the league objecting to a report he had presented to the league concerning the subject of land settlement in South Westland. The letter, after, detailing the circumstances leading up to the investigation that was conducted recently, stated that the Westland Committee regretted that the league adopted and published the report of Mr Judd, which was admittedly of a second-hand nature, made without first-hand observation, from reports on conditions which did not prevail to-day, without first referring it to the committee for comment. The letter concluded with the following words: "While thanking the league for its report the comnyttee insists that it is far too damning of general conditions, giving the impression as it does that settlement in Westland is a lost cause.” Mr Judd said that the proposed road from Jackson’s Bay to Ohura was estimated to cost 274,000, and he had come to the conclusion that from the point of view of settlement the proposal was absolutely absurd. His information was not obtained second hand, but from settlers in the district. Jackson’s Bay, in his opinion, could never be made a harbour and the country did not warrant the construction of a road twenty-four miles long costing £74,000. The cumber of settlers at the present time was about eight, and if the road were made the country would carry about two more. Mr W. K. M’Alpine said that the statements made at the previous meeting of the league concerning the matter were absolutely correct. It was decided to remind the committee it hltd advised the league to take the matter in open meeting.