PROGRESS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18187, 21 June 1927, Page 5

PROGRESS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.

REMITS DISCUSSED AT IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. Matters concerned with the progress and development of the South Island were considered to-day at the third annual conference of Progress Leagues which was opened in the Chamber of Commerce Hall. The following delegates were present:—Southland League, Messrs W. Alexander and J. S. Dick; Otago Expansion League, Messrs S. M. Macdonald, E. Tamblyn and W. B. Steel; Canterbury Progress League. Messrs J. E. Strachan, G. M. Hall, G. Maguinness, W. K. M’Alpine, P. R. Climie; Westland Committee, Dr E. Teichelmann and Mr J. W. Morris; Nelson Provincial Progress League, Messrs W. J. Moffatt and A. Gould; Marlborough Progress League. Messrs R. F. Goulter and W. T. Churchward: Buller Progress League, Mr T. H. Ilarkness; South Marlborough Progress League, Messrs 1. Harle and G. E. Parsons: Grey Progress League, Messrs D. M. Robertson and Orville Randle,

Welcome by Mayor. J- E. Strachan, president of the Canterbury Progress League, introduced the Mayor, the Rev T. K. Archer, and the Deputy-Mayor, Mr D. G. SulliM.P. He referred to Mr Archer as “ our very' popular Mayor.” The Mayor extended to the delegates a very hearty welcome to Christchurch and expressed the hope that their deliberations would be fruitful of good results. He regarded the conference as of very particular importance, because the delegates represented a wide area and the whole community and not merely a portion of it. Such conferences tended to break down the vice of parochialism. They had heard discussed at different times the supposed interests of one place as against another, but he thought that sort of thing should end. The progress leagues represented the progressive forces of the South Island. His idea of a progress league was that it should be an organisation where they could all meet as men of progressive ideals and en- [ thusiasm. A progress league that did not stand for progress was a misnomer | and was better but of existence. The j South Island, as the smaller portion j of the Dominion in point of population, j had to make itself heard in matters affecting its welfare. Mr Sullivan said he was very glad to associate himself with the welcome extended by the Mayor. Also in his capacity as chairman of the Canterbury members of Parliament he wished to welcome the delegates. The Canterbury members of Parliament took a keen interest in the work of the progress leagues, and in furtherance of their efforts a South Island Members of Parliament Committee had now been formed, of which he was secretary. The growing strength of the population of the North Island emphasised the need for organisation in the South Island in order to secure their just needs. In fighting for their own development, he considered that they should keep out of their minds anything in the nature of antagonism to the North Island. On the motion of Mr Steel (Otago) Mr Strachan was appointed chairman of the conference. Chairman’s Remarks. Mr Strachan said that it was impossible in these days for anyone to live in a purely parochial sense. Therefore it was absolutely essential that there should be an exchange of views between the different progress leagues. Through causes beyond their control the North Island had gained in population to a much greater extent than the South Island. The latest figures showed that 62.8 per cent of the population was in the North Island, and 37.2 per cent in the South Island, although the South Island comprised 57 per cent of the total area. Such a distribution of population was not in the best interests of the Dominion as a whole. (Hear, hear.) It was, he considered, absolutely imperative that there should be a strong organisation in the South Island to press its needs. Furthermore the strong should help the weak, and they should be prepared to assist the weaker provinces. Apart from what the Government could do for them there was much they could do themselves to develop their own splendid natural resources. He believed that after passing through a period of depression they had turned the corner. They had evidence a few days ago of the great prosperity of Canada and he thought they could do the same here. A well known economist had recently expressed the opinion that the Pacific would ultimately become the third Mediterranean. The people of the South Island should play their part in the development of the Pacific.

South. Island Shipping. The following remits dealing with South Island shipping were considered: From Otago: “That the Government be asked to assist in re-instating the pre-war, direct, time-table steamer service between South Island Ports and Australia; either by subsidy to the Union Company for such service or an increased grant for the carriage of mails. Should the Union Company decline to re instate such service on the plea that their vessels cannot be profitably employed therein will legislative protection from hostile competition be given to any other vessels carrying on the trade.” From Southland: “That in the interests of the proper development of the Dominion’s .trade and tourist resorts, this conference of South Island Progress Leagues draws the attention of the Government to the necessity for adequate steamer services between Australia and the South Island. The conference is of the opinion that New Zealand will never receive its fair share of trade and tourist traffic until a service similar to the old weekly Melbourne service is restored and urges the Government to co-operate with the Union Steamship Company in the restoration of this service by providing an adequate subsidy to the company. 1 * Mr Steel, in moving the Otago remit. said that before the war there was a weekly service between Melbourne and the South Island. The war had necessitated the cessation of the service but the shipping companies had given an assurance that it would be reinstated. In spite of this promise and repeated representations that had been made the shipping companies had failed to provide anything but an unsatisfactory, irregular service, which did not give an opportunity of regaining the trade that had been lost. The business people of the south maintained that the trade was there and that the service would prove a profitable one if proper facilities were provided. The people in the south were prepared to establish a service themselves if they were given a guarantee of protection from hostile competition. lie considered it. was np to the Government to help them in this direction. Mr Steel agreed to accept ‘,he Southland remit as an addition to the Otago remit. Mr Alexander (Southland) seconded the motion. He suggested that the reference in the Otago remit to the Union Company should be deleted, as he did not consider that the company would do anything further in the matter. Mr Steel agreed to delete the

“to the Union Company,” leaving the matter open. Mr Dick (Southland) supported the remit. Mr Macdonald (Otago) expressed the opinion that they were being strangled by interests outside the Dominion. If the Union Company was not prepared to carry out its duty it should stand aside if another service were established, and his league was prepared to say now that a new company would be formed if the legislation asked for were forthcoming. The remit was adopted lyGovernment Fruit Steamer. On behalf of Otago. Mr Steel moved the adoption of the following remit:— “That the assistance of the members of Parliament be sought in securing an extended itinerary for the Government fruit steamer, by including Dunedin as a port of call on every voyage, or alternately with Lyttelton.” In the course of his remarks Mr Steel referred to the possibility of developing trade between the South Island and Samoa. There had been conferences with the fruit merchants regarding the quantities of fruit that could be disposed of in the South Island, and they'- had given an assurance that they could empty the boat in the South Island. He could not see why the vessel should make the deviation from Wellington to Auckland simply for the purpose of picking up a few Government officials. Mr Macdonald seconded the adoption of the remit. He said that there was any amount of cheap fruit going to the North Island, both Wellington and Auckland, whereas in the south bananas and citrus fruits were such a luxury that many people could not afford to buy them. Moreover, much of the fruit going to Southland was, he considered, unfit for human consumption. Me reviewed the discussion that took place prior to the inauguration of the service, but instead of being consulted regarding the itinerary of the vessel they were told that it had already been arranged. Unless they stood shoulder 1 to shoulder in t.he South Island and demanded justice from the Government, that vessel would in a few months go to the North Island only. It was put on as a South Island service, but was already practically a North Island service. Mr Alexander (Southland) said that che Southland people certainly thought that the vessel should call it Dunedin, if not every trip, at least every -alternate trip. The remit was adopted. Lyttelton Tunnel. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Tamblyn, the following Canterbury remit was carried:-—This conference records its appreciation of the Government’s decision to electrify the Tvvttelton-Christchurch section of the South Island railways, and expresses the hope that the work will lie carried through with the least possible delay.”