Toronto – Wonder City Of Canadian Dominion

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6626, 12 August 1931, Page 3

Toronto - Wonder City Of Canadian Dominion

MR. T. R. HODDER’S ADDRESS “If you arc wanting a real good holiday do not miss visiting tho city of Toronto—it is one of the finest places in tho Dominion of Canada,” declared Mr. T. R. Hodder, of Palmerston North, when addressing members of the Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Club yesterday upon the features of this centre. The speaker added that he had also found the American people very kind' and hospitable, there being an absence of tho slang with which New Zealanders credited them.

Mr. Hodder said that he had spent just over a week in Toronto and found it beautifully situated on the northern shore of Lake Ontario and 26 miles across from Niagara Falls. It boasted a population of SOU,OOO and a good climate.

Three hundred years ago the Indians had named this centro “.the place of meeting” and, due to its fine geographical position, it was to-day worthy of this designation, being tho queen city of Canada. In Toronto there were 2000 factories manufacturing practically every product of our sister Dominion, from safety pins to automobiles. It was, however, not noted as a steel, motor or milling metropolis, none of the industries holding a dominant position over the others. It was an immediate centre for tho largest consuming populace of the country and, as an important port, it carried on trade with 29 British and '43 foreign countries. Tho city was one of tho best advertised places in the world, sparing no expense to present its outstanding features to tho public at homo and abroad. Tho Canadian National Exhibition in itself was also a fine advertisement being attended by over two million persons annually. Tho exhibition grounds, said Mr. Hodder, covered 350 acres and included a park lined with 100 fine buildings, one and a half miles of waterfront to the lake, nine miles of paved streets together with land and buildings representing 20,000,000 dollars.

Electric power was cheap in Toronto, tlio supply being derived through the medium of the Niagara and Ottawa rivers which brought unlimited hydropower to the very door of this wonderful centre. Taking as a basis 125,0U0 customers tho average cost of power for 100 hours was 6s Bd, while 30U hours cost 8s lOd. Tho government of tho city was vested in a municipal council consisting of tho Mayor, who received £2OOO annually, and a board of control of four officials receiving £IOUO each per year. This executive body was responsible for expenditure and general control. A visit to one of the city’s bus and ear workshops revealed an area of live and a half acres all under glass and it- was here that 400 skilled men were employed. Buses were built at the workshops but street cars were not, although repairs were effected. After covering 70,000 miles all buses were brought in for a complete overhaul while 300 street cars left the depots in ordinary hours and 1000 for ‘ ‘ rush hours.” Mr. Hodder next detailed the scientific treatment of the sewerage and alluded to many other civic enterprises. The hotels of Toronto were outstanding, the finest being the Royal York, a palatial structure of 28 floors towering to a height of 642 feet. The first, six floors of this building were used for entertainment purposes, including dance, radio, library, public and dining halls. The home of the well-known film star, Mary Pickford, was pointed out with pride and this was in the fashionable area of “Rosedale” whore beautiful residences and tree-lined streets created a rare sight of beauty. No buses, street cars or other heavy vehicles were permitted to run in this select locality, Mr. Hodder concluded. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the .speaker on the motion of Major Rose.