AUCKLAND'S PRQGRgj

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 169, 18 July 1924, Page 4

AUCKLAND'S PRQGRgj

A imp RESSQi GOOD WORD FOR TBE J^ MUNICIPALITY'S ENTEBBE' (By Telegraph.— Special to «St6.-> DTOTEDDT, tW. ~„ r. John Hamer, manager n f Princess Theatre, recently jSjL* Dunedin after a eojourn in AucW fc he gave a "Star" reporter sorn/S ~,l* sions that he had formed of thTv -P 1 ? , city whilst domiciled there Mr expressed himself as being charm the natural beauties of "ThTlTT** the Pacific » and he was also * impressed with the very nmnkZ?*gress that had been made ZceM '* ™ U8 visit > wa 7 back in 1908 Hamer produced whole tables of stafil , to show that since last he 3 shores of the Waitemata the wbbL* had increased by just on 80,000 .lS all Dunedin could do was to «,' It 11,000. He ran no risk of beiS £> amongst Auckland's teeminfftjS,,!?? as he met old Dunedin friends where. No Klondyke had attracted $' thither, but each and all had their heads that it was the>oUS to live in Auckland, and more «S[ ally if one wished to enjoy the priri£ of dying outside the workho£T2 they were evidently enjoying a Ml sC of the general prosperity. TMg W" hard pill for patriotic DunedW ♦ swallow, but their motor cars and 1W era bungalows testified to the fact Mr. Hamer summed up what he hit, say about the tram service with "wonderful." There was practical!?* overcrowding, and certainly the iu£ gers were not packed in with {Hα* horn as they were in Wellington. Sα was not because the people prefenS walking to riding, but owing to the »S less chain of tramcars that radiated h all directions from Queen Street Another feature that appealed to m who had not served his apprentices!], to steeplechase riding wae that one mi safely wager on not being toseed orerboard, Auckland cars being much betfe behaved in this respect than others of their kind. Those responsible for layim down fresh lines did not spend anion or two beforehand counting heads Mi estimating what percentage of resident] would use the cars and how many time per week. They sorted Ont variom promising districts, and. boldly set to work to provide facilities, irrespective« the present population, and this.temptd people to build away from the more poptlous areas. The zeal of the civic authorities al» aroused Sir. Hamer's enthusiasm. Hi Auckland city fathers were_ evidently imbued with the belief that if their city is not the best in the world it wool soon be entitled to be crowned with that happy distinction, and they were.doing everything that enterprising men aid fairly liberal ratepayers could do to help along this very commendable notion. "What is Dunedin doing?" asked St. Hamer in a regretful manner that implied the answer, "We appear to be atting tight and doing nothing. Doiij nothing! That's what we're doing," I was credibly informed by a. man »lo ought to know that there is £8,000,0(M of Dunedin money sunk in Auckland. We seem to be satisfied with making tti money for Auckland to spend. Withmr abundance of hydro-electric power andib remarkable cheapness we ought to be thi premier manufacturing centre of tli Dominion. We have not Auckland's Wskato to lean on, and we. are therefon essentially a manufacturing place, fft have the best climate in New Zealu4 and its mildness makes it particuliilj suitable for manufacturing purposes. Wi don't know what rain really is, and oa can enjoy a bright day here, but in Auckland it is nearly always muggy ai steamy. In conclusion Mr. Hamer. stressed tit fact that whilst Aucklanders had been singing their praisea in major key » that they had been broadcasted worldwide, hardly a chirp had proceeded from this direction. Most of. our talk was in the minor key.