TravelersBanquet23Mar1907n1rp1020
Calgary Herald
23 Mar 1907
n1rp1020
TRAVELLER'S BANQUET
An
Excellent Toast List and Some Stirring Speeches Are Made.
GROWTH
IS GREAT
Mr. Niblock on the Transportation
Question-- Presentation to Senior Consular A. G. Austin.-- Further Reduction in
Passenger Rates to Commercial Travellers.
The second annual banquet of Calgary Council, No. 304, United Commercial
Travellers of America, was held last evening in the Elks banquet hall, Calgary.
The function was a notable success, the hall being prettily decorated for the occasion,
and some fifty guests sitting down to a very choice banquet.
Amongst those present were the following: J. O. Connell, W. Gordon Cunningham,
A. H. McKeown, A. Allan, A. G. Austin, J. M. Black, H. W. White, Charles H.
Webster, J. E. Proctor, W. J. Holloway, R. G. Bedlington, F. W. Hardy, Geo. R.
Pirie, A. T. Linton, R. C. Johnson, V. W. Libby, O. S. Chapin, E. M. McCammon,
J. P. Minhinick, F. R. Lyne, D. J. McCutcheon, F. W. Kent, H. H. Donnelly, J.
C. Brown, Fred C. Watson, S. S. Savage, C. B. Clarke, J. Bonnycastle, G. F.
Priblon, J. D. Moir, J. MacRoss, T. M. Gillillan, F. T. Wright, W. Scott, S. M.
Hartronft, J. G. Waldock, S. J. Wetmon, John Trottier, Geo. A. Turner, T. H.
Lancaster, F. O. Boulton, J. Young Byers.
A. G. Austin, senior councillor, occupied the chair of honor, and was the
recipient of a presentation during the evening.
The toast list was an important one, several statements of interest being made
during the evening. Dr. Pirie sang several songs very acceptably.
The following was the toast list, and the replies to the various toasts will be
reported fully in a later edition of The Herald: "The King,"
"Our Country," "Our City," "Transportation,"
"Financial Institutions," "The Hundred Thousand Club,"
" Trade and Commerce, " " The Medical Fraternity,"
"The Press, " " The Ladies."
The king's health being drunk with the singing of the national anthem.
The toast of "our country" was very ably responded to by A. Allan. He
drew comparisons between now and some 23 years ago, since which period he had
lived in Calgary and seen it grow. Canada and Calgary had only commenced to
grow. This period was the country's awakening and the settlers were coming in
their thousands, and their millions. He hardly thought the manufacturers were
keeping pace with the needs of the development of the west. There had been some
tinkering with the tariff but few realized the great growth and needs of the
west. Although he was not a native of this country, he now looked upon it as
his mother country, and after witnessing the vicissitudes which he had seen in
this country for the past 23 years, it was not an easy matter to comprehend its
future in 23 years hence. He had only to compare the remarkable growth of the
country with the growth of the customs returns at present to five years ago to
forcibly demonstrate this. Six years ago the total collections in both Alberta
and Saskatchewan were $8,000 to $10,000 monthly, whereas last month Calgary's
receipts were over $40,000 alone.
In concluding, he stated that it was the intention of the government to secure
the very best class of immigrants, and judging from their efforts he was of the
opinion that they were eminently successful.
Extracted by J. Kynman 2009-08-09
