COMMERCE TRAIN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5502, 18 November 1929, Page 2

COMMERCE TRAIN.

VISIT TO PAEROA. JOURNEY ACROSS PLAINS. At the commencement of the North Auckland tour the Auckland Chamber of Commerce train arrived at Pokeno early on Saturday morning. Many of the visitors were up betimes and took the opportunity of exploring Pokeno and the vicinity. Shortly before nine the Mayor of Paeroa, Mr W. Marshall, the chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council, Mr C. W. Harris, with the other motorists who had placed their cars at the disposal of the visitors, arrived. After an informal meeting the party entered the vehicles, eleven in number, and, led by the car of Mr A. P. Grant, Public Works Department’s acting engineer, Paeroa, commenced the journey to Paeroa. At Mangatawhiri Lake the cavalcade stopped and the visitors gathered round Mr Grant, who pointed out the proposed site of the first station this side of Auckland, and by the aid of a map the route of the authorised railway. Later another stop was made at Gulland’s Pit, on the Mangatawhiri stream, to view a riverbed gravel crusher in action. Much interest was displayed in the machine, and many individuual photographs were taken. Mr Grant then led the line of cars across the Franklin and Waikato counties as near as possible along the surveyed route. At the Waikato and Hauraki boundaries a stop of several minutes was made to allow the visitors time to inspect the upland source of the Hauraki Plains water. Mr Harris, the Plains county chairman, explained that from this area the Hauraki Plains drew a continuous supply of pure water ; an achievement which had cost some £40,000. Pure water was now assured to cattle as well as to human beings, where before dependence had perforce to be placed on artesian wells, the water of which was too highly mineralised. Embarking again, the party sped across the fertile and smiling Hauraki Plains, to the county seat, Ngatea, where the several councillors were gathered at the entrance of the County Chambers to welcome the visitors. After a short stop the remainder of the journey to Paeroa was completed in one stage.

The day, which had dawned with a cold nip in the air, gradually became warmer, and by the time the cars were fairly on the Plains turned out one of delightful sunshine, in pleasant contrast to the weather of the last fortnight. Many were-the expressions of admiration passed at the condition of

the country which passed in panoramic sequence. The frequency with which cheese and butter factories were passed in a short space of time on the Hauraki Plains told the visitors more eloquently than any words could the vast dairying wealth of the district. Added to this were the numerous lorries collecting cream for factories further afield—cream going afield to swell the returns of other* districts. On ’ arrival at Paeroa the visiting business men divided into four parties to have luncheon at the various hotels. A short stroll round the town, and members of the commerce train forgathered with their hosts at the Gaiety Theatre. Here were waiting to further welcome the guests the chairman (Mr C. Mason) and members of the Ohinemuri County Council, besides the greater part of the Hauraki Plains County and Paeroa Borough Councils, with His Worship the Mayor of Paeroa, Mr W. Marshall, in the chair. The Welcome. Mr Marshall, in welcoming the guests, said it was an unique experience to have so much of the talent and wisdom gathered together at one time in Paeroa. Many heads of Government departments were present, and what they had seen and would see should strengthen their convictions that there were further improvements in the Auckland province that had to be done. It was not a joy ridp, but a journey of pleasure and business combined to study the problems of a part at least of New Zealand. The visitors were on a mission to establish better understanding between city and country, and would be a profit to all the districts they passed through. The Paeroa-Pokeno Line. Continuing, Mr Marshall said that the party had just passed over the route of the Paeroa-Pbkeno railway. (Applause.) For this railway the Auckland Chamber of Commerce had been continually hammering away. He forgot how many times and how many Ministers had been’approached on the subject and had visited the route. It was Astonishing how few people had any adequate conception of how close the line brought the East Coast to Auckland. Sir James Parr, who was born at Thames, and had been Mayor of Auckland, when told that with the railway Paeroa would be only three hours away from that city, was astounded. 4

The trip that day had been made by 60 or 70 active enthusiastic advocates for the line. (Applause.) The country was life and blood to the city, and the country needed the city. One of the greatest potential areas of New Zealand was the East Coast, if only properly linked up. Most of the Ministers of the present Cabinet had been through the district of the PaeroaPokeno railway, and were favourable to its construction. As for the £5OOO voted on the Supplementary Estimates, it might be possible that the Government could throw further light on it, said Mr Marshall. Personally he could state emphatically that all the survey work had been done ; even the station sites had been pegged out. That the railway had been authorised no one could deny. (/So thorough had the estimate been made that work could be started next Monday. Political Bluff. The speaker said he had no hesitation in stating that the £5OOO for a survey was mere political bluff, and

should not be spent. If spent it would be a crime on the country. The Government should say straight out if the proposal was good or not; their bluff should not be allowed to pass. If not economically sound the line should certainly not be gone on with. In the affected district the people were not parochial, and realised that if not for the good of New Zealand as a whole the line should not be gone on with. They would not quarrel if the Government said it was no good. Yet all had said it was of the first importance. He regretted that Mr H. H. Sterling had been too indisposed to make the trip across, for had he done so he would have been convinced. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce through the personal inspection of the route by many of its members could now further support the proposal, said Mr Marshall. The Auckland Chamber put its name to nothing it had not thoroughly investigated and approved of; thus its support was doubly valuable. Auckland President’s Remarks. Mr H. T. Merritt, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, in reply referred to Mr Marshall’s speech as able and eloquent, and stated that all the sentiments he had expressed were echoed in the minds of every member present. The speech was worthy of a high quality of statesmanship. Mr Marshall had been quite right in saying that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce never advocated anything it had not tried out: anything that was no good, or not economic, was not put in hand. He had read in the Press that the people of Paeroa had wondered if the party should be entertained. Personally he would have been exceedingly, disappointed had they not entertained them. In the city they had all the amenities of civilisation. It was riot feasting and entertainment they had come for ; all that could Ije had in the city. They had come to meet the people of the district visited, to establish personal contact.

As one got older, said Mr Merritt, one forgot the pleasures of younger years and remembered only the inflictions. He had not been in Paeroa for 15 years. In those days he had often visited the town, and could not help thinking it had been slipping and slipping back. On arrival after 15 years’ absence he had been impressed by the enormous change. The splendid and beautiful streets, the evidences of a high standing of town-planning, life, and activity. Paeroa had at last come into its oWn. No doubt the golden stream from the country was making Paeroa, but it was also due in a large measure to its Mayor. • For the last seven years Mr Marshall had devoted the best part of his time to Paeroa. The Mayor had supervised personally at no expense to the borough. It was the finest example of public service in the Auckland province. Paeroa-Pokeno First. Referring to the Paeroa-Pokeno railway, the speaker stated that he regarded it as a cut-off. Before making the journey he had that day he had been a lukewarm, enthusiast for its construction, but now' he knew what it meant he was an ardent supporter. He would return to Auckland convinced that whatever else was urgent in New Zealand the Paeroa-Pokeno line came first. That was the mandate he had to take back to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. He could visualise Paeroa as a rival to Frankton. Wealth was in Paeroa, and it was easily possible to show the Railway Department what an enormous amount of traffic could be carried over the line—traffic now carried by steamer. The Auckland chamber was strongly advocating the commercialisation of the railway. The Auckland Chamber. Speaking of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr Merritt said its activities were being extended, and it was being supported by the main centres in the country. The need of the city provided the need of the country, and the need of the country that of the city—there was no difference. Menace to Personal Property. Economic conditions were offering a serious menace to personal property and wealth, and a militant front had to be presented, said Mr Merritt. Predatory instincts were loosened and had to be watched. With that end in view, and to check them from spreading, the Auckland Chamber proposed to appoint a secretary at Wellington to keep in touch with Parliament and to help push things forward. There should be protection for private property and wealth, and equal opportunities for all. Trade Commissioners. Mr L. A. Paish, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, explained that his duties were to help extend the commercial intersts of not only the British Isles, but of the Empire as a whole. He was careful to point out that he was not the British Trade Commissioner, but His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, a vastly different thing. He asked that if the people of Paeroa had any questions to ask about trade they should not hesitate, but write to him. Mr C. M. Croft, Canadian Trade Commissioner, said he had been seven years in New Zealand, but that day was the first time he had been over th Hauraki Plains. He now realised that was his loss. He was particularly struck by the vast potentialities of an area that a few years was a mere cipher.

Speaking of trade between the two Dominions, Mi* Croft said he was out to help New Zealand trade with Canada just as much as he was to help that of Canada with New Zealand. New Zealand trade had increased by leaps and bounds. Mr Julian B. Foster, Trade Commissioner for the United States of America, spoke of the friendship between American and Britain. The visit of the British Premier, Mr Ramsay McDonald, to the United States had done an incalculable amount of good. Mr Foster said he was in America at the time, and knew that the people were 100 per cent, solid for joining in with Mr McDonald’s idea. His visit had created a greater feeling of friendship between the two countries.

Plains Passes Taranaki. Mr W. Lunn, past president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said that one reason for the commerce train was to get in closer touch with the country districts and remove absurdities extant. The Hauraki Plains had developed marvellously in the last 15 years. The Hauraki Plains and Thames Valley now exceeded the exports of that wonderful province Taranaki. Auckland was perfectly satisfied that the Paeroa-Pokeno railway was needed, said Mr Lunn, but he suggested that those interested should not be disappointed at the £5OOO. The country was rather hard up, and the earthquake, as well as other things, had put it back somewhat. He considered the £5OOO showed that the Government was in earnest. No power on earth could stop the construction of the connecting link : it was such an economic necessity that it would be done, and he confidently expected to see the money appear on next year’s estimates. Short speeches by the president of the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce and Messrs P. Williams, president of the Paeroa Chamber ; C. W. Harris, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council ; C. Mason, chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council; W. Lock, ex-Mayor of Nelson ; D. Rodie, commercial manager, N.Z. Railways ; and C. T. Mackenzie, assistant engineer in chief, Public Works Department, followed. Later the party entered the commerce train at Paeroa and left for Waitoa.