KING COUNTRY TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18631, 12 February 1924, Page 9

KING COUNTRY TRADE.

TARANAKI ASPIRATIONS. . i CONFERENCE AT TE KUITI. TbT XELXORAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION. > TE KUITI. Monday. A ' large party of business men from Taranaki has visited Te Kuiti with the object of fostering trade with the King Country. The party, numbering 26, motored through the Awakino Valley Road and were met by members of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce. At a meeting in the Town Hall, various matters were discussed. Mr. Bellringer, chairman of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, explained the progress of the board's work, and other visitors outlined the scheme of Taranaki business men to secure boys from Britain as cadets on farms, who eventually will take up farm work. The need for the completion of the metalling of the Awakino Road and for a bridge over the Mokau River was emphasised by the delegates. Messrs. J. N. Boddie and A. P. Gray (Te Kuiti) advocated land, settlement on the group system. Mr. W. J. Broad foot, president of the Te Kuiti Chamber, spoke of the necessity of making more of the tourist traffic. A chain of hostels on up-to-date lines, he said, was the only method of accomplishing this. Mr. S. J. CloEev (Otorohanga) spoke of the advantage of using the waterways of the Waikato and King Country for transport. A railway between Te Kawa. and Kawliia, he said, would be of immense benefit to the King Country. The representatives of the Taranaki Chamber offered suggestions whereby it was stated trade could more advantageously be carried on via the New Plymouth Harbour, now that overseas shipping service!! had been established, than by the present means. The visitors left this morning on their return to New Plymouth.