COMMON INTERESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 278, 23 November 1929, Page 11

COMMON INTERESTS.

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

NEEDS OF THE NORTH.

1 CAPITAL AND PUBLICITY.

COAL SEAMS ONLY SCRATCHED,

(By Te:egrapb.—Special to " Star.")

KAWAKAWA, this day.

Remarking that if there -was stagnation in the country stagnation would ifollow in the city, Mr. George Leity, president of the Kawakawa Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the district, expended a warm welcome to the Commerce Train *?arry, at a smoke social to-night, when proposing the toast of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The speaker said that prosperity of one meant prosperity of the other. He referred to the history of mining in this and said that the coal seams ihad merely been scratched.- Capital alone was needed for development, not only in mining,, but also in freezing ;»"orks and other primary industries.

Mr. Malcolm Stewart, replying to the toast, expressed thanks for the hospitality extended to the party, and explained the objects of the tour. Those who had come would in future he boosters for the wonderful North. One of its urgent needs was an all-weather anain road. He hoped that further provincial conferences would be held, and that matters brought forward by county chambers would be given careful consideration. The Auckland chamber would do all' possible to assist the farming industry with a view -to 'bringing about-greater production. ; . The toast of the "New' Zealand Railways" was given by Mr. G*. W. Smith, who paid tribute to the Railways Department, and to Mr. Sterling for the attention given to local requests. Railway officials realised that they ' w ; ere tunning a huge business, and it was a pleasure to work with them.

Responding, Mr: Sterling expressed satisfaction that local difficulties had Wen unravelled. The railways Stood as a bulwark against excessive transport costs, and he hoped they would continue to give satisfaction to the people of the (Dominion.

Mr. D. Rodie, railways commercial manager, said it "was the endeavour of hie branch to get into touch with commercial men and the people in both, town and country in. order to provide the best possible facilities for all. They did not sit "on the high horse/' but. were out to give the maximum of service. , The toast, "Trade Commissioners," ■was proposed '.by Mr. €. F. C. Miller, chairman of the Bay of Islands Hospital Board, who expressed pleasure with the visit to the North. Mr. J. W Collins, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, expressed great pleasure with what he had seen of the North, and suggested that local people should submiT proposals for opening up the coal coal fields. Mr. L. A. Paish (Great Britain) replied for the commissioners. What the North needed, he said, was more capital and more production, and to get these they needed more publicity.' .He expressed thanks for the wonderful hospitality. . Mr. H. M. Cookson, branch president of the Farmers'. Union, proposing the toast of. "Local Bodies," stressed their important public service. Mr. H. T. Atkinson responded. Mr. Albert Spencer (president), proposed "The Kawakawa Chamber of Commerce," and Mr. E. H. Blundell, vicepresident,' responded.