KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 171, 21 July 1924, Page 8

KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD.

DINNER AT THE C.T. CLUB. CIVICS AND BUSINESS. TRAVELLERS' AXXUAL GATHERING To their annual dinner which was held on .Saturday night in the clubhouse, Durham Street, the members of the Auckland Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Club, '"Knights of the Road." as they are called, invited us usual, civic and other prominent citizens, and the event passed oIT with its accustomed eclat. Mr. J. Woodall, the president, ably filled the duties of principal host, and the club's staff excelled itself in the excellent dinner which was served. ] Public men are always glad to be guests :of the club, not only because the travellers are generally such excellent company, but also because they have always shown themselves so ready to help ehartable and other deserving objects that crop up in a community. The Auckland Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Club now has 1000 members, as the president mentioned .luring the evening. After the guests had T>een warmly welcomed by the president, the toast of '"The Civic Bodies," coupled with the names of Mr. George Baildon (deputyMayor), Mr. H. R. Mackenzie (chairman of the Harbour Board), and Mr. W. Wallace (chairman of the Hospital Board), was proposed by Mr. Robert Bums, patron of the club. He paid a tribute to tho very efficient manner in which the civic bodies of Auckland carrier! out their duties, and ho felt it was due to tho fact that they wore proud of Auckland, proud of their city, jand of the way in which it had gone uhead. Those at the head of civic matters in Auckland had filled their tasks so efficiently . that they were making it extremely difficult for their successors. Harbour and Hospital. Mr. H. R, Mackenzie, chairman of the Harbour Board, said it was pleasant to hear the nice things said about the I Harbour Board. He felt that one of the i great factors in the success of local body j matters in Auckland was that they were all proud of their city, they were loyal to Auckland, and got the loyal support of all the Auckland people. As fur as Auckland harbour equipment was concerned he thSught it a very fine thing j that a 5000-ton steamer could be discharged in Auckland two days quicker than in any other port in Australasia, and the engineer that could bring that j fact about was deserving of every credit. There had been some criticisms of Auckland's harbour scheme, but it was the right thing. It had been designed twenty years ago, and with only, a few minor alterations, and the man that could do that must be able to look ahead. Referring to Prince's wharf Mr. Mackenzie ! said it was over four times as big as Pipitea wharf, Wellington, with which tome people had tried to compare it. Prince's wharf cost £600,000, but the land that had been reclaimed as the result of dredging for the wharf would in ten years' time be as valuable as the wharf. * Mr. Mackenzie mentioned that one thing of which the board was proud was the good feeling that always existed with the City Council —both working to--1 gether for the good of the city and the province. He paid a tribute to the work of Mr Baildon as deputy mayor, and expressed the hope that he would be the next Mayor. The president explained that Mr. Wallace was absent in Wellington, much to the regret of the club. If there was one man that needed help that was the chairman of the Hospital Board. Mr Wallace had proved himself the right man n the right place, always anxious and ready to°help those in distress and Richness. He was always there to give hie time, talents, and 'money for the poor and sick of Auckland. Chamber of Commerce. Mr. A. Thompson, past president of the club, in proposing the toast of "The Chamber of Commerce," coupled with the name of Mr. A. A. Martin, the president of the chamber, said Mr. Martin was one of the original members of the Association, while amongst eight of the past presidents of the Chamber no lees than Beven were on tho original foundation of the Association. Tho Chamber and the Association were linked by mutual interests, and he thought it would be advantageous if the Association had representation on the Chamber, as was the case in a number of ither cities. The Chamber had done good york for the city and it was a pity more of its members did not find time to go into Parliament. Mr. Martin spoke of the excellent qualities of the "Knights of the Road," and said his sympathies were always «ith the club. Regarding representation, as a matter of fact he had intended at the next meeting of the Chamber to move that the president of the Association should, ipso facto, be coopted with the executive of the Chamber, Personally he appreciated very much the support the Chamber had always received from the members ot the Association. Ships anS Railways. Mr. J. W. Ryan, immediate past president, proposed the toast of ".Shipping," coupled with the names of Mr. D. C*rtcr of the Union Company, Captain Hammond of the Northern Company, and Mr. A. Cerutty of the Huddart Parker Company. , ' Captain Hammond, as the result o£ coming into touch with travellers probably Inore than any other company, 'poke highly of the class of man workin" the "North Auckland. They were rightly named "Knights of the Road." They were always willing to help any charitable or social object, and the Northern Company was always wiling to do what it could to help them. Captain Hammond said it was not necessary for him to say much about the Northern Company; they were all familiar with its expansion and the ramifications of its services out of Auckland. The company was started thrty or forty years ago in a very small ■ way, and now had something like forty vessels, and carried between 200,000 and 300,000 passengers every year. Mr. Cerruty also bore testimony to; the good fellowship between commercials "and shipping people, and said his company had always found them fine people to deal with. Major E. G. Fraser (vice-president) proposed the toast of the Railways, coupled with the name of the manager, Mr. A. W. Mouat, district traffic manager, who spoke of the friendly relations between the Department and the Association's members. Other toasts were honoured during the evening, and at intervals enjoyable musical and other items were given by Messrs. Dan Flood, E. Caaley, L. P. ■Leary, G. Barnes and E. Lux, Mr. C H. Worslcy acting as accompanist.