AUCKLAND'S COMMERCE TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 13

AUCKLAND'S COMMERCE TRAIN

Ever sinco his arrival in the Dominion in September last, lie had been touring all over New Zealand, having travelled for two or three weeks past in the "commerce train" all over the Auckland province, said H.M. Trade Commissioner (Mr. L. A. Paish), speaking at the- luncheon of the British (U.K.) Manufacturers' Association of New Zealand on Friday. He had, therefore, not had tho opportunity of getting into as close- personal touch with the members of the association as ho had wished; but ho hoped to bo able to do so before very long. Ho must say that he thought a great deal of good had been done by the tour of the Auckland "commerce train."' Some CO people—mostly from Auckland, but some from Wellington and other parts —had travelled, by train and motor, over a district which, so far as lie could learn, few people ever visited. Particularly in the- back parts, it seemed to be unknown country to most1 New Zealanders. But it was obvious to anybody going up there that enormous developments were taking place. The laud was coming into cultivation very rapidly—some of it of poor quality, of course, but some very good indeed; and it was clear that the North Auckland province would be one of the great butterfat-producing districts of the Dominion before many years. He called their attention to that fact because, if the province was going to grow so rapidly, it was just there that tho business would be going. It had been called "Tho Koadless North," but, though one or two of the roads were very bad, most of them were travclablo at the present time by any ordinary car; andl, during the summer months, at any rate, he would not hesitate to take oven a small car over most of them. The "Commerce Train" had visited Dargaville, Whangarei, AVhangaroa, and some 15 other North Auckland towns, big and small; and he thought that that mixing of the city people and the country people would do a great deal of gopd. He had noticed some feeling of jealousy between province and province, between town and town, and between town and country as ho went about; but New Zealand was too small- a country for that sort of thing to g*o on. It was against tho interests of the country as a whole; and he thought, therefore, that the Auckland people had done much good by that expedition. (Applause.) He had found the New Zealand people most patriotic as he went about amongst them. (Applause.) -