CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DELEGATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2646, 30 October 1909, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DELEGATES.

OPINIONS ON NEAV ZEALAND

AVhile in Auckland-the Chamber of Commerce delegates had some interesting opinions, which they gave to the press representatives. “DOUBLE YOUR POPULATION. “Canada appealed to me as an ideal country,” said Mr. G. H. AA'ilson, president of the Ossett Chamber of Commerce, Yorkshire, “but when we visted Australia I changed my mind in favor of that country. Tasmania then appealed to me as the most fertile country I had ever seen; but now I shall emphatically 6ay to my friends at Homo that New Zealand offers the greatest attraction to visitors and settlers. This part of the Dominion is more like our own country, with the additional advantage of a more genial climate.. You have done wonders in developing the country, but your population must be doubled many times before you can mako the most of your resources. If I were young and desired to colonise I should come to this part of the country. The harbor I regard as one of the sights of the tour.” A FUTURE FOR NEAV ZEALAND. Mr. J. Peat, wollen manufacturer, of Leeds, was much impressed with the harbor eudparticularly with the extent and. depth ; of the waterway. “It is admirably adapted for . a naval base,” ho remarked, “and will some day rank high among the maritime centres of the world. The provision of such a dock is one of the many indications of progress which we have noted at Auckland. Your ferro-concreto wharves speak volumes for the soundness of vour public works undertakings. A\ 7 hen New Zealand has a population of nine or ten millions —and there is no reason why she should not—the country will be a power in the world.” TAKES THE IMPERIAL BISCUIT.

The visitors were enthusiastic over the beauties of the harbor. “It is magnificent,” was the remark of Mr. B. Warnford-Davis, representative of the London Chamber and chairman of the party. “I have seen nothing finer on the whole of our tour, outside Sydney.” “Then you give the palm to Sydney?” the “Herald” representative queried. “Yes,” was the reply, “but only for the picturesqueness of its harbor an<L successcn of sheltered nooks, which appeal to the English visitor. But Auckland has a finer expanse of water, a more protected entrance, and greater accessibility. Altogether this is a delightful place, and, after all the fair spots I have seen, if I wer© retiring and seeking a new home, Auckland would claim me as a citizen.” Mr. Davis further expressed the opinion that for compact arid varied scenic attractions Now Zealand took th© “Imperial biscuit.” _ He found tlie people far more Homelike than in some of the Australian centres, where some of the citizens aimed at aping tlie Yankee, and did it rather badly. New Zealanders were homely, and their object RP' peared to be to enjoy life en passant' as much as to make money. ■ “I l or , a cosy life,” v added the visitor, “and" for refreshing surroundings, commend ;;ni'© to your beautiful Dominion.” ATTRACTIONS FOR IMMIGRANTS ’ Mr. J. Chadwick, rug manufacturer, of Kidderminster, said that in comparing notes most of the delegates preferred Australia and New Zealand to Canada, while there were not a few who considered that the last-named country offered the most varied attractions to immigrants. Tlieir visit to Auckland was among the most pleasant of the tour, and they would look back with pleasure to their trip on the harbor.