NARROW VIEWS MUST COME LAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19118, 10 July 1930, Page 5

NARROW VIEWS MUST COME LAST.

PROGRESS LEAGUE CAN SECURE CO-OPERATION.

There is always the danger of narrow and parochial interests being allowed to overrule considerations of public welfare. It is in this connection that the work of the Progress League and other similar bodies is of the greatest public importance. This statement was made at the annual general meeting of the Canterbury Progress League yesterday by the vicepresident (Mr J. Carr.) In moving the adoption of the annual report, Mr Carr said that he proposed to deal very briefly with some of the most important aspects of the present economic situation in so far as they had a bearing on the League’s activities, and its policy in the immediate future. It was widely recognised that the world was passing through a period of trade depression, which was making necessary many social and economic re-adjustments. Falling prices for raw materials were creating difficulties for producers in almost every country. The burden of public and private indebtedness, accumulated during years of prosperity, was pressing heavily upon industry through high local and general taxation. It was in such times as these that the necessity for whole-hearted cooperation to the fullest extent was recognised. The League provided an invaluable means of enabling all points of view to be fully expressed before action was taken, and when a decision was reached the League had behind it a solid body of opinion representative of the whole province. The League thus fulfilled a function which was invaluable in times of prosperity, and even more important in times of stress and difficulty. In Canterbury, in particular, and in New Zealand as a whole, there were great resources both human and material. There was much work to be done in furthering the development of these along the right lines. Temporary set-backs in prosperity served a useful purpose in directing attention to possible improvements in methods of production, in eliminating waste and in getting rid of weaknesses in business organisation and public administration. “An effective means must be provided,” Mr Carr said, “for linking together town and country interests to enable persons engaged in different occupations to unite in a spirit of useful co-operation and assist in developing the wealth-producing potentialities of the province.”

The following officers were elected ■ President, Mr J. A. Flesher; vice-presi dent, Mr J. Carr; treasurer, Mr C. Tl Clibborn; auditor. Mr D. Hoare.