HAMILTON AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 6

HAMILTON AFFAIRS.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

LIGHT. RAILWAY PROJECTS.

[BT telecbajh.—owk OORMSPOITD^T.]

\.: HAMILTON. Monday. A meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce was held to-night, Mr. G. Parr presiding over a large attendance It was resolved .to ask the Minister for Justice to establish a branch of the Lands, Deeds, and Stamp Office in Hamilton, arid to point out that the volume of business now concentrating in the Auckland Grace was resulting in vexatious delay and adding to the expense of resident* in the Waikato. -' '.■ ' ,"* ■ ' "- : :: ''- • r " In a letter to Captain H. D. Dansey, Brigadier-General Richardson said he was pleased to see that Captain Dawey had stirred up such a bealtny interest in light railways. After referring to tho value of light railways in war the General said he felt sure that in the future when returned soldiers became members of public bodies they would remember their experiences o! light railways, and apply them to tho benefit of the country. •'■''■ The chairman 'said that a strong deputation representing all the light railway project* was going to Wellington shortly to urge the Government to permit a twofoot gauge to be used. The chamber appointed delegates to join.. the deputation and also passed a resolution asking Mr. Masscy to introduce legislation making provision for ' two-foot gauges. ~ .The acute shortage of cement was the subject of discussion, .and the probability of securing it from Australia was raised. It was decided that the matter should bo brought. before the attention of. the Government by the light railway deputation. With a view to setting up a co-operative sawmilling company of returned soldiers, it was decided to ask the. Crowa ranger for ' information # as to the amount of millable timber in the Moerangi block. The manager of the Waikato Shipping Conlpany, a co-operative concern, gave some , information regarding . the steamer which has been brought from Wanganul to work on the Waikato River. He said it carried. 400 passengers on a 15-inch draft, and was equal to any river steamer in any part of the world. ' They had not catered for passenger traffic in the past, but.tliere was* no reason why the Waikato should not have a tourist service the same as in Wanganui. . ~ Discussion took place upon the influx of Asiatics into New Zealand, ana 1 it was decided to support the Returned Soldiers' Association in it« protest against the im-' migration of Hindus and al«o to support any scheme having as it* object the encouragement of British immigration.