IN THE RICH NORTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 826, 21 November 1929, Page 10

IN THE RICH NORTH

COMMERCIAL TOURISTS WELCOMED VISIT TO RAILHEAD ( TllE Si.-VS specie.: Reporter. I OKAIHAU, 'Vednesdav 'the settlers here gave a warm welcome to the Commerce Train party, which arrived late this afternoon after a visit to the YYaitnate Show. The city men were taken in a special Public Works train over part of the new Okaihan-Raugiahna section and the district engineer. Mr. J. Mclnnes. explained the difficulties of construction. Through constant slipping of the land two miles had to be rebuilt. At the dinner reception given in the V. hall 200 attended. Mr. IT. 11. Sterling arrived today from Wellington. lit welcoming the tourists. Mr. AR. Wigmore. president of the Okaihau Chamber of Commerce, said that at present the North is practically an unknown peninsula and had been called names, which did it no good, and such names should now be forgotten. They would see that it was tio longer the "poor North,” but the “rich North.” The climate was better than that of any other country. “I have always had faith in the North and am still of the strong opinion that it has a great future, said Mr. W. McAulay. the director ot the Auckland Freezing Company. Mr. A. Shirtliffe, a well-known farmer of the district, remarked that he was ashamed of the 30s offered to farm workers. Seven-tenths of the farmers could not afford better wages while costs were so high. “Tl*e Okaihau-Rangiahua rail extension is the greatest public scandal and the greatest waste of public money in railway history." said Mr. E. H. Henderson, member of the Okaihau Chamber of Commerce. It had never been mentioned in Parliament and it was a great pity that the late member of Parliament, Mr. Allen Bell, had not stuck to his guns and got roads instead of railway, and then there would have been enough money to build a concrete road to Kaitaia, 45 miles. Mr. Malcolm Stewart, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, referred feelingly to the death of All*. W. M. Passmore, member of the touring party. Mr. Wendell Phillips, Auckland, paid tribute to the work of the Public Works officers. Mr. C. J. McKenzie, assistant chief engineer of the department, and Mr. J. Mclnnes, district engineer for North Auckland, who had pointed out to the party the progress of road and rail works. All*. Phillips also thanked the women of the district for their hospitality.