AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2115, 25 June 1907, Page 3

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL DINNER. Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The annual dinner of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce tookplace on Saturday night at “The Tiffin, when, in accordance with usual custom, the Members of the House for the district were entertained. Amongst the subjects dealt wtih m the after-dinner speeches were railways, public buddings, public works, and tariff . It was urged that Auckland had not been fa rly treated in regard to public work* generally, as compared with southern cities. and that the Government should give the city its due in futuie. Mr. N. A. Nathan, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, speaking at the annual dinner, attended by members of Parlaiment, said a matter of the greatest interest to Auckland «- the opening up of - letter Another pressing need was better communication for country .settlers in the matter of public buildings. .The Auckland members should insist on something being done without delay to provide better accommodation than now exists. The urgent need for increased rolling stock, on the railways was also urged. Other members o the Chamber urged the importance of completing the Main Trunk railway to Wellington, in connection with ti e Taranaki and Gisborne lines. Reieience .was also made to tariff reform, to cheapen the cost ot living, while not impairing local lndustiies. was suggested there should bo established in each centre a board of reference, constituted of representatives of each branch of commerce, with the Collector of Customs ac chairman, tc Which should be submitted questions arising for interpretation of the tariff. Another matter suggested for consideration in view of the tariff adorations was reciprocity with Australia. Mr Massey, responding to the toast of “Our Guests,” said they were given to understand thait Parliament would be given an opportunity of doing away with many tariff anomalies that existed, and which wore harassing business men, and were a source of loss to the public generally. He trusted no attempt would be made W incrase taxation by means of Customs duties, but that there should be reductions on articles of daily use. Mr. Massev also mentioned tho Land li I and the importance of dealing with Native lands in the north. Ho said it justice was done to these three grea questions there would be very little time for anything else. He congratulated the Chamber on the immense ]irogress of Auckland, and predicted next census the population of the city and suburbs would be little less than 100,000. Referring t'o mail services Mr. Massey said the Suez was a very poor substitute for the ’Frisco service. Something better must be provided in the near future. He favored a fast mail service via Vancouver. "he Hon. S. T.“ George thought the completion of the Trunk railway to Wellington should take precedence before attempting to establish communication with Gisborne and Taranaki. Replying to the toast of the Mayor, Mr. A. M. Myers said the Govern 1 . mon+l liad not done justice to the province of Auckland. It had property in this city valued at £407,000, on which it paid no rates, and it was the duty of the Government to erect public buildings to meet the requirements of the city. He made special reference to the post office and railway station buildings. Tlie Ma.yoi also urged the importance of opening up land for settlement in tlie north Mr. Harries warned Auckland merchants to bestir themselves to inter cept the current of trade flowing fron the East Coast to the South Island Wellington, and Napier.

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. BARRING BASKIVILLE. STRONG PROTEST ENTERED. Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. , At a recent mooting of tho Potono Borough Council it was decided to , delegate to tho Wellington Rugby Union power to warn H. 11. Bnskiville off tho Potono Recreation Ground on such days as tho Union has uso of tho ground, for matches. .Basil i villa is tho person recently disqualified by the Now Zealand Union in connection with the formation of a professional football team to visit England. At to-night’s mooting of the Council a letter was road from Baskivillo, stating that lie was going to have tho matter threshed out, and asking for particulars of tho bv-law under which ho was to be excluded from municipal reserves.