"HOME ON WHEELS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 255, 27 October 1928, Page 11

"HOME ON WHEELS."

COMMERCE TRAIN LEAVES.

AUCKLAND'S FAREWELL.

FULL DAY IN THE WAIKATO,

(By Tel^grajvh—Special to "Star.")

HAMILTON", this day,

After a smart run over the first- stage of its nine days' tour, the ''commerce train" which left Auckland, at 9 o'clock last evening to the accompaniment, of a friendly farewell drew on to a siding at Frankton well before midnight and enabled its 80 'passengers to'settle down for the first night's sleep on this noVel "home on wheels."

The party, is composed of officers"and members of the Auckland Chamber of< Commerce, representatives of associated bodies, trade commissioners from overseas, and leading officials of ..various Government Departments. This company, has the distinction of forming the personnel of the first tram to tour in New Zealand.

Over the pipes in the smoking. l<»utfge,: and in the general process of becoming acquainted, conversation last eveninc 1 turned on many interesting topics. One group discussed the origin of the com-' merce train idea. Last year a proposal was considered to organise a "great white train" to tour New Zealand on lines which had been followed with success in South Africa and Australia. On such a space is sold to exhibitors, who display manufacturos much the same as at winter exhibitions. The train is painted white. In bright weather it glistens in the sunshine, and' at night its approach is heralded bv brilliant searchlights. However, in spite of active promotion the "great white train" did not run. " A Happy Inspiration." Meanwhile, a "similar, idea was terminating in: the minds of the Chamber ol Commerce leaders in Auckland, and as a result' of conferences with Government offieJals, a decision was reached about six months ago to • pi'oihote a commerce train tour. ,J® the words of Mr. George Finn, president of tlie Auckland Manufacturers' Association, who is travelling on the train, "It. was a happy 0 . those/; brilliant brain waves -which arise frotm time to time—and the readiness .with . which, the- plan was taken-up shows that there.is ah earnest desire amoing tlie business men of Auckland to extend and cement the. cprdial relationship and good feeling already existing between the commercial and agricultuiTal ■ interests of the province." ■ "The inauguration of the tour has been most successful," said Mr. H. T. Merritt, president of the chamber, 'and the ' first- citizen" of the touring company. "We are indebted to the officials of the Railway Department for their excellent organisation, and we look forward to expressing our appreciation at the close- of the tour."

Mr. D. Rodie, commercial manager of the Railway Department, paid a tribute to the enterprise of the Chamber of Commerce for initiating the tonr. "The enthusiasm which has been shown* by business men in the city,", he said, "has been matched by the keen: ; respon&£.:'of people in all parts of the. ptoyincevf .1 feel j?tirgthat othpr civmTqr nature /will follow. In- fact; w"<j h&vtji aready 'been approached by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and wo informed them that we are prepared to organise a tour of the southern part of the South Island in the autumn." •ko sooner had the train commenced speeding through the night than committees began to organise the tour. The management committee is comnrised of Messrs. H. T. Merritt, D. Rodie, A. W. Wellsted, J. W. Collins, A. G. Lunn and A. M. Seaman and Dr. E. P. Neale ex officio, as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. This committee mapped out a programme for the ensuing 48 hours ; and arranged to meet daily throughout the tour.

Lighter diversions sucli as bath in 3 parade, medicine ball and community singing were entrusted" to the care of the itiusical committee, which consists of Mtessrs. A. G. Lunn, R. Ansfus, *J. Arneil. C. F. Bennett, F. M. Winstonc, and D. Rodie and Dr. Neale. In the loun£ car is a large gramophone and last evening records brought by members : of the party were "" tested with pleasdng results. Everybody is waiting for the community singing to commence, with Mr. Coltman as the .first leader. On the train there 'is an ample supply of literature. Fraternising in the Waikato. This morning the travellers were out bright and early after partaking of morning tea, shipboard fashion, and some' of the more venturesome appeared to relish the cold showers which have been, set up in an accompanying box waggon. Breakfast was taken at the Frankton railway refreshment rooms, and at nine o'clock the party set off in motor, cars as guests of the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Co., on a visit to the butter-box and casein factory. An hour later the cars left for the Ruaku'ta State Fajm. and subsequently returned to Hamilton, .where a luncheon wa.s tendered by the Council and Cltamber of Commerce.

With the Butter Makers. After their instructional visit to the factory at Frankton, as guests of Mr. H. H. Sterling and the members of the staff, the tourists are much better informed concerning the many processes in the making of butter and casein and the manfacture of the boxes and tins to carry thefee products. The factory is one of the sixteen central factories which are run by the company, and the total output of which approximates in value tb £5,000,000 a year. The commercial men were greatly impressed with all they saw. At Ruakura Farm. In a fleet of thirty motor cars', organised by the Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, and the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. F. H. Clapham, the party was conducted to the Ruakura State Instructional farm. Here they were reieeived by the manager, Mr. H. Munro, land in bright sunshine they-were, driven through the. luscious pastures and treeshaded fields of the splendid farm which has been produced from what was formerly a swamp area. The visitors were shown through the .shearing shed, the milking shed, the cattle pens and the many other interestling places on the farm. At the call of 1 Mr. Merritt hearty cheers were given for J Mr. Munro and the boys in training.

A couple of hours later the train left Hamilton for Waharoa to permit of a : visit to the extensive butter factory— the largest factory under one roof in the world.

Throughout to-day's visits and at the exceedingly happy mid-day function one'felt that the educati6nal and social purposes of the tour were being splen-

didly' achieved. If similar enthusiasm is displayed at the other centres to be visited, New Zealand's first commerce train ventnre will be written down as a brilliant success.

One of the surprises of the day—and there have been many surprises—was the distribution this morning of the 'first daily issue of the Commerce Train News," a four-page news-sheet printed in three colours and containing photographic illustrations of places to be visited on the day of issue. Copies are being distributed to residents as well •as to the travellers. Auckland Loan Poll. Some of the .tourists have expressed ccmcern at the absence of so many -Auckland ratepayers when the loan poll is taken on Wednesday next. Mr. Merritt accprdingly dispatched to the Minister of Internal Affairs this morning a telegram asking if it is possible to constitute the commerce train a special polling booth. The .suggestion bas been made that Mr. Merritt should be nominated as a special returning officer for tlm purpose. On Wednesday next the train will be travelling from Hangatiki to Iluntly.