TEE PROPOSED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 232, 28 September 1908, Page 2

TEE PROPOSED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING.

(To the Editor.) Pir.—ln your report of what took place a-t the Chamber of Commerce last Thursday. 1 -jjn somewhat seriously misrepresented. 1 ajn reported to hay« said: "•In the Suuth Island—Midland line^ —there ■vvas int-luded the vote for the Arthur's J'ass tunnel. That was done for the express purpose of deceiving." There is a ELiritake here. 1 wais asked: *"In these votes have you included the vote for the Norl h Island Trunk line?" 1 replied: "Yes. In the JCorth Island votes I have included the 1 £226,000 for the North Trunk, and in the South Asiand the £150,001) for the Arthur's Pa-ss tunnel." .And I then added: "'This is right. 1 do not agree with those who hold tha.t a portion of the cost of the North Trunk line ought to be charged to the South Jsla-nd railways. The cost of their lYrmk line is charged to the Sou-ih Lsl-aud. ami why not the cost of rrur Trunk line to the North Island?" Having aaid this, it is impossible that I could have spoken as reported. 1 generally find Ihe Press reports accurate, but here they made a mistake. Tn conclusion, permit mc to say that the meeting Was not cojiveTied to disease '"Vaile's Stage System."' Vint to try and discover some effectual way of deaEng -with the very unfair treatment that has been meted out to the North Island, both, in the matier of railway construction and. voting from the year IS7O right up to the present time (190S), and probably one of the worst years will be 100S-9; but to consider this -very important subject, out of a Chamber of 27S members, representing all the principal businesses and institutions in the province, not more than ten were prepared to spend an hour.—l am, etc., SAMUEL VALLE. Aucklujid, September 26, 190S,