GISBORNE-MOTU RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2202, 28 May 1908, Page 2

GISBORNE-MOTU RAILWAY.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. VISIT OF THE MINISTERS. A LENGTHY STAY. Tlio Minister of Mince, the Hon. James McGowan, aiid the Minister for Native Affairs, the Hon. James Carroll, arrived in Gisborne yesterday to open the new section of about 3$ miles in length on the Gisborne-Motu railway. The Ministers wore accorded a most enthusiastic reception, and tiie interest in the construction of the line was shown by tlio large number of representative gentlemen, members of tlio East Coast Railway League, Gisborne Rorough Council, Cook County Council, and private citizens that journeyed to Waikohu to witness ' the ceremony. Mr. W. J. Gaudin bad charge of the day’s arrangements, and to him tho success of tho 1 unction was greatly due. The day, however, had its amusing incidents a 3 well, as its serious side. In tho first place Messrs John Townley and W. D. Lysnar, with Captain Tucker, were deputed to meet the visitors, but all threo gentlemen missed tho launch, and the party came ashore without formal welcome.

The Hon. Janies Carroll is suffering from a sore throat, and will remain at his house in Gisborne for some weeks seeking a recovery, while the Hon. J. McGowan will not return to Wellington until Sunday next. Tho morning was spent in receiving deputations in the Cook County Council Chambers, to all of which the Ministers gave attentive hearings and sympathetic replies. After lunch the party boarded a special train for Waikohu, and an interesting, and to same extent, serious and instructive incident occurred just as Mr. McGowan was about to declare the section of the lino open. The Waikohu river was carrying a fresh on account of the recent rain, and tho Motu coach, with a number of passengers aboard, which arrived at tho crossing just *at that time, had to ford tho river, which was nearly over tho horses’ backs and up to tho top of the coach wheels, under great and dangerous difficulties. The fact was pointed out to Mr. McGowan as an example of the disadvantages ot travelling in the backblocks. The new section of the railway from the Waikohu terminus starts to ascend an incline, and just as the homeward journey was about to. be commenced, and the party was safely on board the train, it was found that the locomotive was not powerful enough to draw the load. The engine putted and blew steam from all vents, the driver backed the train and made several attempts to proceed,, but each time the cylinders were turned for the forward journey the wheels, turning around at a rapid rate, failed to grip the rails. The line was sanded, but all ,to no purpose, and among cries of “Get out and push,?’ the male passengers alighted -so as to relieve l the load, and after a little coaxing the engine commenced to move. The incident served a useful purpose by allowing the Ministers to see themselves that the power of. ,the locomotives is .totally inadequate lor the traffic. , , „ ~ When the special reached le ha raka, it was delayed lor about liail-an-liour to allow the ordinary uptrain to' pass, eventually reaching Gisborne shortly after six o’clock. Sir Joseph Ward will visit Gisborne on June iOth, and formally inspect tbo railway and declare it open. DEPUTATIONS. BOROUGH AND COUNTY REQUIREMENTS.

Captain Tucker as chairman of tiie Cook County Council brought under the notice of the Ministers the fact that sums of money had been placed upon the estimates which had not been spent. The various amounts, allotted to the Poverty Bay district were: Gisborne to Wairoa County £IOOO. £SOO only been spent; Waiapu inland reads £lso'; Waimata inland roads £250; Hangaroa-Taliora road £000; Mangapoiki East road- £800; Ngatapa'to Motu road £202; Whareko-pae-Ngitapa- road £100; Tauwhareparae roael £2OO. Tho application made by the Cook County last year was about £20,000, as Government grants, and the answer was grants of a little over £IOOOO. There was a good deal of obscurity about the items in the. list and he would be glad to know if the County Council could obtain authority to spend the money allotted. The County Council' had recently raised special loans to pay for roads and bridges. It was impossible to get steel bridges in New Zealand and it was necessary to import them from America, and lie thought the Government might see its way to allow a rebate of tho duty on bridges for the use of settlers. The County had imported a bridge at a cost of £1340 and had to pay £435 as duty and if that duty was enforced it would almost prevent bridges being erected in tho back country. Tho County also intended to lay down a- tramway from Gisborne to Patutahi and desired to buy or borrow rails that were rejects from the Government if such could be arranged. Mr W. F. Somervell asked for a grant to. erect a bridge across tho Mangaheia river near Tologa ©ay. The bridge would cost over £IOOO and if tho Government could make . a grant it would assist the .settlers very much. The settlers were not experiencing prosperous times and to raise all of the money would press heavily upon them. Mr C. A. DcLautour said the Government last year granted a sum of money foi; the Waiapu bridge, and the .settlers were of opinion that tho Tikitiki site was the best for the district and he asked the Minister to mediate as to the site and applying the grant that had been made for the bridge. Hon. Sir Carroll said ho thought they would find that some of the f money mentioned by Captain Tucker was being expended by the .Government, and the delay in tlio erection of the Waiapu bridge was caused by the difference in opinion as to the best site. If the counties could determine the site, the grant, which was an old one .would bo available. Captain Tucker said the Government had acquired a road to Te Arai tiie Te Arai estate had been cut up tbo Government and leased to set-, tlers. 4 hose settlers had appealed to the County Council to construct the read which was in a bad state. The Council had decided to spend £GOO on the road and he thought the Government should, allot a sum of money to have the road properly metalc V. ln flxlll S the prices of the land of tile estate to the settlers an additron was unde for reading. lion. Mr McGowan in reply said the grants mentioned by tlio Chairman wore not clear as ho had a statement prepared and did not know which would bo correct the statement from the Department or Captain Tucker’s. Captain Tucker said his statement bad been prepared by the clerk. Mi McGowan : Well then liavo you had any grants that exceed those on the estimates?

Mr McGowan said somo of tho grants had been over expended, which showed how good tho Government was.

Captain Tucker: Yes. I admit that, but while some grants have been over expended somo grants have not been expended at all. Referring to tho Waiapu bridge Mr McGowan said tho grant was £I2OO, £SOO was available and authority given for a grant of £SOO. Mr De Lautour said the - bridge - would cost £4OOO and it was proposed to raise a loan. That loan could not bo raised until the cite had been fixed. He only asked for the Government to agree to tho site. Tho Council had taken pains to inspect _ various sites, and decided that likitiki was the most suitable. Mr McGowan said if ho went over the money spent in the Couuty by the road l engineer ho could show’that

tlm amount, voted had boon exceeded. As regards the rebate of duty on tho bridge, that should bo placed before the Minister for Customs, but he did not think tho Council would have a strong argument for a remit on American or German bridges, as Mr Millar would probably say if ho had tho. power that ho would rathor increase tho duty. However ho (Mr McGowan) would put tho matter before tho Minister for Customs. As regards tho request for rails ho did not think tho Government had any to sell, but iho would look into tlio matter and let tho Council know what could bo done. As regards tho grant for a bridge over tho Mnngahoia river tho application would receive full consideration when the estimates wero ■being framed. Captain Tucker said tho County Council would assist tho settlers, and if the Government would also assist tho bridgo would bo built. Mr McGowan: What is the rate? Captain Tucker: Ono penny in the £. Mr McGowan: You can rato lip to threepence; don’t forget that. Captain Tucker: A low rate on a high valuation and if we rated up to the full amount wo would bo in danger of our lives. Mr McGowan: Are you afraid of your positions then? Captain Tucker:' No. Afraid of our lives. Tho Mayor said a rato of 3d would be unreasonable. Mr McGowan: I will go through tho applications and if funds are available I will try and get money to help you. I feel for tho settlers who have bad roads, and if anything can be done noxt session I will do all I can to see you get- your share. As .regards tho low price of wool it is beginning to creep up again and I think the settlers hero should have a good heart. The Mayor said the Government had a block of ground reserved for Native requirements in tho AA'aimata district. The block had been offered for lease but withdrawn. The Borough of Gisborne had only n small endowment and he thought the Government might soli tho block to the Borough for a reserve for a nominal sum. Tho Government had valuable properties in the borough and wero not. contributing to the rates and thus the block could perhaps be sold for a nominal sum. The borough some time ago took the AA'aihirere creek for water supply purpose®. but abandoned it and it was now desired that the creek should be placed under the scenery reserve Act Thore was a good piece of bush and a waterfall and bo thought the place could be turned into a holiday resort. Other requirements wore a better supply of trucks on the railway and a stronger engine to dr an the trucks, as two engines were now needed to draw a heavy load and the cost was charged to the Borough. Ho would also like to see the Department provide trucks for carrying stock, as none were now available. Mr Sheridan said it would bo at well for the Minister to know that the rates of the Borough now totalled 3s in the £ and the Borough was stiff without drainage and good roads; 60 that they could not afford to pay a big price for the land at Waimatn which they asked the Government to sell.

Mr J. W. Bright also brought under the notice the want of facilities

at the railway station. Mr McGowan said the AVaihirere ■'•-.-reserve belonged to the Natives and he did'not know if the Government could take it. Mr Lysnar said it had been taken from the Natives two years, ago for water supply purposes and -afterwards handed back. Mr McGowan: In my opinion we have enough scenic reserves in- the Dominion. Mr Carroll said the natives were willing to sell 100 acres. Air Lysnar: That will be sufficient. Air AlcGowan: Very well. Then 1 will see what can be done. As regards the AA'-aimata block I will put the request before the Alinister for Lands and 6ee what oari be done. Air Lysnar asked that in the meantime nothing would be done to dispose of the land. Air Carroll said nothing would be done in a hurry, because the title to the land was not yet clear. Air McGowan said he fully sympathised with the Council in the wan* of trucks and would do all he could to -amend matters. He also agreed that a heavier engine was wanted and would- put all the requests before the Alinister for Railways. Air Lysnar thanked Air AlcGowan for his consideration of their request. Captain Tucker brought under the notice of Air AlcGowan as Alinister for Justice the case of a boy who was committed to an industrial school for an indefinite period. The boy bad since conducted himself ..very well and his parents desired his liberty, and he would present a petition, from the parents -and -a number of friends asking for the -boys -release. Air AlcGowan said ■ the petition would have to go before the Hon. Ali I’owlds as Alinister for Education, who had charge of Industrial schools. He -and Air Carroll would do all they could to have effect given to the pe-

tition. Captain Tucker thanked the Ministers for their patience in- hearing the ’’’"deputations and Mr McGowan said that ho would do all he could to comply with- -all the requests. Settlement in New -Zealand had been going on in advance of the possibilities of reading whereas in most countries roads went in advance of settlement. The Ministers were then entertained at lunch in. the Masonic Hotel by tbe East Coast- Railway League.

THE RAILWAY OPENED. A LARGE ATTENDANCE. A special train was in waiting at the railway station to convey the Ministers and party to Waikohu. _ a stop was made at Ormond and ie Karaßa, where a large number of residents got aboard, and by the timo Waikohu was . reached the special was fairly crowded. . , When' the train drew up at the terminal point, which is on the bank of the Waikohu river, at Willows Crossing, the visitors inspected the works, and the opening ceremony took The President of the East Coast Railway League (Mr. John To\vnley) said lie was pleased to be ablo to welcome the Hons. McGowan and Carroll to Gisborne. The GisborneMotu railway now extended for AH miles, and, whilo it was not as far as they all desired, hy was satisfied that if it was pushed on each new length would prove a profitable and useful undertaking. Ho would ask the visiting Ministers to urgo the Cabinet to continue the construction of tho line until it reached the bush country, for the bush was now being cleared and useful timber destroyed while they were importing timber for building purposes Ho wanted to see the line pushed to Ralrauroa, and he hoped that when the Mam Trunk lino was completed the expendituie on the Gisborne railway would be increased. Ho congratulated the settlers on the extension of the line, and the district on having the Ministei to Mines to declare The Chairman of the Cook County Council (Hon. Capt. Tucker) also welcomed tho visiting Mmisteis, and said that in.years past tho construe tion of the lino was with somo trepidation- and doubt, but he now ciuite saisfied that all doubt was expelled, and the lino would ultimately pay the Government handsomely. He felt justified in urging its epeedy construct 1 on ns far JR d s St°c f timier’ «“'*>• *> brought into use, Mid the caome lli g • = ■ ■ ■ • ;■. .

would bo quito justified in a moro rapid construction of tho lino. Tho Alayor (Air. W. D. Lysnar) expressed similar views, and added that ho would like to soo tho -hands employed increased from 70 to 200. It would take from 31 to I years to complete tho next, section at tho present rate, and ho thought t-lio district should demand moro rapid construction. Tho -Government -should put its shoulders to the wheel, and soo moro progress on tho lino. Tlio district had for a long tinio contributed to tho cost of railways in other parts of the Dominion, and should now demand justice and fair play in- their own. Air. IV. L. Ilocs said ho could endorse all that had boon said by tho previous speakers, -and could in -all fairness call upon tho Government to prosecute'tho construction of tlio lino for ho was satisfied it would pay n high rate of interest on the capital invested. The lino would tap an immenso timber country, and when that was done tho revenue would ho doubled, and tho valuo of property increased. Ho welcomed tho Ministers to the district, and hoped they would use every endeavor to have tlio lino pushed on..

Air. AV. D. S. AlacDonald, as a settler of tho district, said ho was glad to soo tlio railway pushed abend. Tho settlers had to labor under many disadvantages;' bad roads, no bridges, and nnfordablo rivers. Ho was anxious to see tho lino constructed as far as Rakauroa, so that settlors could open up tho rich pastoral country. Tho district was indebted to Air. Carroll for his strong advocacy of tho laying down of tho lino, for ho had always foresoon what' a groat benefit the lino would be. Ho trusted it would not be long before another section of tho lino was opened. Air. AV. Bridgo, a member of the Alotu Railway League, also welcomed the Alinisters, and spoke of tho inimenso timber resources that would bo opened up when tho lino was completed to Rakauroa. The Hon. James AlcGowan. in dotoliring the raihvayljopen, paidlke was not present as a resident of Gisborne, but to congratulate tho people of Poverty Bay on tho completion of another section of the railway. Tho opening would, bo informal, for tho Prime Alinister would visit tho district on Juno lOtti, and the more important ceremony would be reserved for that date. He was pleased to have Air. Oar-roll present; Out was sorry to toll- them that lie would be unable to speak as tbe Minister for Native Affairs was suffering from a sore throat. AA'kilo lie would agree with most of what the previous speakers had said, he wanted those present to look at the position from a practical standpoint. They were all interested in -railway construction, and lie was specially interested in the Gisborne-Rotorua line, for he had always advocated a line to connect the East Coast with tho Hauraki Gulf. Ho hoped to see a great system of railways connecting with Auckland, for it was necessary for a largo city to have good railway communication, and he quite anticipated that Gisborne would some day be a big city, connected by a main railway lino. (Hear, hear.) Ho did not wish tho people of Poverty Ba- to think they wore noglocted by the Government, for as every mother thought her own child the best, so every district thought it received tho worst treatment. New Zealand, considering its ige and small, scattered population, could compare as regards progress with any country in the world, for no country, with equal conditions, had tho railways and facilities for travelling that were obtainable in the Dominion. Tho Alayor in his speech had put down the hob-nailed boot and hid said the people demanded more rapid progress. It was tho duty of the. district to get as much as it could, and he would promise to do his share of work towards that end. That day he did not know exactly in what position ho stood, except perhaps as nurse to Air. Carroll, but, with tho member for AVaiapu, he agreed that the Alotu timber forests should be tapped and the country opened up for sheep and cattle farming. If that was done a lot of land that now carried sheep could be turned into dairy land, and the sheep driven further back, for the- lands of Poverty Bay were amongst the best lands in. New Zealand. Touching upon the question of an outer harbor, ho thought that work would mean an increase in the rates over the dis--fcrict. The general rate at present was not heavy, but the special rates mounted up to a fair sum. _ In largo cities it was necessary to go in for big schemes for improving tho sanitation and health, .but the proposal fqr an outer harbor for Gisborne should receive very careful consideration. However, he was not present to give a general lecture, hut would draw attention to tho fact that while New Zealanders asserted that they had wonderful timber country, ho noticed that Australian wood had heen -used for sleepers for the railway they wore to open. He regretted such was tho case, for even if jarrah or ironbark lasted longer than New Zealand woods, it would pay better to use New Zealand timber and so keep the money circulating within the Dominion. (Applause.) It was necessary, whan increased expenditure was -asked for, to pay some attention to tho money market. There had recently been a depreciation- in .wool values, but he was satisfied good prices would come again, and the settlers should bo satisfied to take the sour with the sweet —the high prices with tho low. tie was pleased to see all the settlers present looking so healthy and prosperous, and he hoped they would all live long to enjoy that prosperity and to seo tho railway connected with Auckland. He would remind them that railways and bridges could not bo built without money, and while it was right that the settlers should find i portion of the expenditure on -roads and bridges, tbe Government had not "■one to London for a loan for some time, but had raised its loans locally, and when the people lent money to the Government they lent it to themselves, and were -helping the Legislature to provide settlors with good roads and bridges. . He had much pleasure m declaring the railway open to traffic. . The party then boarded the tram and returned to Gisborne.

AT HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

RAILWAY EXTENSION

In the evening the railway requirements of tho district were brought under Mr. McGowan’s notice at a public meeting arranged by the East Coast Railway League, in His Majesty’s Theatre. Mr. Carroll was unible to be present. . Mr. John Town-ley occupied tho chair, and said that thev had opened another section.of the Gisborne railway that day. The Hon. James McGowan and the Hon. Mr. Carroll were amongst them -and lie had to apologise for tho -absence to-night of Mr. Carroll from the meeting because of illhealth. He thought it was now reasonable to ask the Government to <ret better carriages and a better engine. The carriages now would do for second-class travelling, hut they needed hotter first-class accommodation. There had been some doubt as to the continuance of the line to Opotiki, and-lie asked the settlers in the Bay of Plenty to join with them in urgiiiijf the Government to push on the survey of the line so that they would know exactly where it was going. Last year tho profit on every mile of the railway was £l2O per mile. He felt the district was entitled to better consideration in the future than it had received in tho past. There was a brid"c to -be built over the Waikohu river by Christmas time, and from there the line would be pushed on in sections, for it was advisable to have the lino opened in sections. They heard a lot about a stock track, but the best stock track was a railway running through the settled districts. Mr. C. A. DeLnutour moved: “That ' tjie residents of the East Coast congratualte the Hon. HallTones and the members of the Government on the completion of the £,sWn<vßotoru* railway to the Ninons Crossing, and respectfully represent: (1) That tho railway has no "‘ hi construct on as the conimeuce‘toCof a Main Dominion ‘railway.. (2) That jte rapid extension toft o -*

kauroa, Alotu, and Rotorua is of vital importance to tlio North Island. Tho spoakor 6aid ho regretted Mr, Carroll could not bo presont, and hoped, ho would soon recover Jus health, for ho.had -always shown tho keenest- interest in tho district. They wore forunato to liavo Air. AlcGowan present, for that gentleman had always advocated tho railway to connect tho East Coast -and Northern District. In tlio old days they had to tnko tho part of educators, lor ton yours ago tho.woalth of tho East Coast was not known to Now Zealanders as a whole. That wealth was now boing -recognised. They wore only beginning to learn tlio vast capacity of tho Eust Coast district, and as tho lino advanced tho valuo of tho country would bo increased. .That was his justification for claiming tho lino as a great Dominion lino to opon up all tho country between Gisborne and Auckland, and tho people could now urgo upon tho Government tho rapid completion of tho lino, for ho was satisfied that would mean a bright future for tho district. It need no.t.be a long time before the lino was through, for tho -whole railway history of Now Zealand extended over a poriod of only 41 years, which for a young country with a small population was marvellous. Tho Mayor (Air. AA r . D. -Lysnar), in seconding tho resolution, said ho desired to thank Air. AlcGowan for allowing Air. Bell to como to tho East Coast to make a geological survey. Ho joined in the regret at the absence of Air. Carroll, for it was duo greatly to him that tho railway had progressed a 6 far as AVaikbTlu. Tho line was now a Dominion- work, and a Dominion lino, and lie asked that greater expedition-bo used, after tho Alain Trunk lino was completed, to push tho work on. It was only a yoar since the lino was opened to Puha, and tho district had strong demands upon tho Government to push on tho railway to the timbered district. There wore now only 70 men employed and it would take them four years to construct another niuo miles (Gold Creek). Ho would liko to seo 200 men put on to tho work, and would like to seo Air. AlcGowan and Mr. Carroll put thoir foot down and sav tho Poverty Bay railway must be extended and 200 men put on as soon as possible. Air. A. Ford© Alatthews supported tho motion, and said that if he wore Minister for Railways ho would liavo railways everywhere, for railways, unlike roads, wore self-supporting and always roturned a revenue. Though thoir cost of construction was greater in tho beginning. Ho a6ked them to support the motion. The motion wn6 carried by acclamation. Air. AV. L. Roes moved: “That this meeting, speaking on behalf of all the people of Poverty -Bay, Is of opinion that it is the duty of the Government and of Parliament to push forward the construction of the Gis-borne-Motu railway as far as Rakauroa without delay on the following grounds : (1) T-hat this step will open the moans of transit for a great timber industry. (2) That it will afford to the settlers of Tahora, Rakauroa. and Alotu tho moans of transit for their produce; and, lastly, that it will more than double the present revonuo of the railway, without incurring any serious increaso in expenditure.” He did not think there would bo -any disagreement over the resolution, for in tho interest of settlement, the advancement of the district, and increased prosperity, they could urge this, resolution to tho notice of the Government. Air. AlcGowan had always urged the construction of the line, and he was sure the Alinister would continue to do so in the future. In the district three bridges were in course of construction, and if those three bridges were completed ‘before Christmas there need be no hindrance to the construction of the line to Rakauroa and on to Alotu. The settlers there lived undor great disadvantages, and at times it was almost impossible to pass over the roads or ford the rivers. The first question the Government should consider was the development of the great timber industry, for the timber to be obtained bad no equal in New Zealand. That timber was now being wasted and burned to open up the land for grass growing, while the wharves were covered with imported timber. If the Government could see that the railway would par. it was a disgrace if it was not constructed. Timber alone would put into the coffers of tbe Government £30.000 or £40,000 a year -as transit charges. The railway would bring prosperity and good to all. Air. J. AVhinray seconded the motion,' and said he -had always advocated the construction of the line, for he always recognised the fact tbit tho timber in the Alotu district was a great asset to the district. A total of over 2,300,000 ft of timber bad been impored into Gisborne during the first three .months of the present year, while they had millions of feet of timber going to waste in. tbe Alotu. He thought the Government would be justified in borrowing the money toput the railway through with all speed. Air. AV. D. S. AlacDonald supported the motion, and assured Air. AlcGowan that if tho railway was pushed on to Rakauroa -a large milling district would be opened up in tbe Alotu. The land was most fertile, an.: would carry sheep or cattle, or could be cut up for agricultural or dairy farms. Tiie motion was unanimously carred.

Captain Tucker moved: —“That this meeting desires to express its satisfaction at the visits which, during the present year, have been made to this district b ( v the Premier and several other Alinisters of the Crown, and to cordially thank them for those visits and for the interest which they have displayed in- the district, and tho wants of its inhabitants, and that in view of the largely increased valuations, population, area under settlement, revenues, and general contribution to the public clicst, the imports and exports, and tlio steadyincreasing earnings by the railway, together with the -rapidly growing number of settlers adjacent to the proposed line of railway to the Motu, this meeting ventures confidently. to expect that the vigor which is being now displayed in the construction of the line will be continued with increased energy.” The speaker said that Government statistics would show that all sources of Government revenue had increased and the earnings of the Gisborne railway month by° month and year by year were p Gaudin seconded the motion. . . Mr. Lysnar said Gisborne was paying 10s more a ton for shipping coil than Nanier because the port could not give the boats -a cargo of timber to carry away. The motion was carried.

The Minister, on rising to speak, was heartily applauded. He said that he was sorry Mr. Carroll was unable to he present on account of a sore throat. He was not going to make a long speech, but lie knew they were wanting the railway continued, and continued rapidly. Seventeen railways wore being constructed in New Zealand, and there was a peculiar unanimity that all of them wore not being pushed on rapidly enough. But the money had to be found, -and they could not stop all others and construct the Gisborne line. Gisborne was- entitled to ite> just share, and ho would do his best to see that it got its fair share. Money to construct the whole ot -the railways within -a few years.would run into millions, and the Government had taken a aviso course by only moderate borroiving instead or undertaking heavy expenditure which would not be judicious, and not to borrow large sums in any one yearhut to push on all radavay works with n prompt degree of speed. It was hotter to work steadily and work well in the way the Government- had decided noon. He desired to compliment the residents upon the membership of the local bodies that looked after their interests. He was sorry that the Minister for Railways was not at the opening ceremony to see the locomotive that would not go. He would be pleased to put the -resolutions before Mr. Hall-Jones and tell him of the arguments that had been used by the speakers. f A. vote of thanks to the chairman .brought the mooting tg a close,