VISIT TO MARLBOROUGH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10545, 23 March 1920, Page 6

VISIT TO MARLBOROUGH

WELLINGTONJELEGATION INTERESTING SPEECHES AT BLENHEIM, PEE I-EEES ASSOCIATION. BLENHEIM, March 22. The party of Wellington commercial men who visited Marloorough at the invitation of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, after an extensive tour of the district, attended a public meeting at Blenheim to-night. ’There was a large attendance. Local speakers emphasised the suitability of Marlborough for seed growing and fruit-growing, its inaccessibility to the Wellington markets, and other matters. ' Mr C. M. Luke, chairman of the Wellington. Central Chamber, said that Marlborough had great potentialities. If Marlborough lacked anything it was faith in itself. The district could develop 75,000 horse-power. He advocated the establishment of a woollen mill at Marlborough. Mr M. Carr, chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, though) the paramount project should bo the linking up of the heads of the South Island trunk railway. He promised tho support of Ills chamber. He was satisfied that Wellington business men would give hearty co-operation, in this endeavour. Better boat .accommoda-' tion would he for the good of ■ both Marlborough and Wellington. If Marlborough wanted to encourage tourist traffic they must have adequate tourist accommodation. He ad. vised the business men of Blenheim to consider this matter well.

Mr T. Forsyth, chairman, of the Wellington Education Board, said ha was agreeably surprised to find such a rich, fertile "area surrounding Blenheim. He spoke of educational matters, and his impressions of what hq had seen of the schools and teachers in Marlborough. Speaking as a softgoods man, he saw no reason why a woollen mill should not h© started in Marlborough, which would be a godsend to the retail houses of the Dominion.

Colonel Mitchell. M.P. for .Wellington South, said tHe district visited was 50 per cent, better than he had any idea of. He would assist the member for Wairau to the best of his power in completing the South ..trunk railway, the institution of a ferry ! service to link op the railway with Wellington, and developing the Blenheim-West Coast road. The first thing for the neople to do was to increase the population of .the district. There were rdentv of arena ..ready for returned soldjeus to br„nk up. He was surprised that, the Government did not buy uy laud. Mr -I. >T. Corrv also spoke. ■

The party will visit Havelock and Gfdd.en Bay to-morrow, leaving fo> Wellington in the evening.