PROGRESS OF ASHBURTON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 106, 17 February 1950, Page 2

PROGRESS OF ASHBURTON

VIEWS OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT TO BE PREPARED The progress and further needs of Ashburton were discussed at some length at Tast evening’s' meeting of the executive of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce. The discussion arose because of recent correspondence in the “Guardian” and the Mayor’s reply thereto, and a committee consisting of the president (Mr J. Lane) and Messrs J. B. Cullen and H. F. McElrea was set up to for mulate and publicise the chamber’s views on the matters raised. It, was reported that it. was found im practicable that the Ashburton Chamber be directly, represented at the Dominion conference of Chambers of Commerce to be held in Blehheim next month, and it was resolved to ask the Christchurch delegates to repre sent Ashburton. A long list of remits was presented to the meeting, including such diverse subjects as shipping turn-round, aid to Britain, technical education, air port facilities, social security, and trust control. It was agreed that the chamber support before the licensing authority an application from Webb’s Passenger Service to run a bus service from Christchurch via Hardwood to leave Christchurch at such time as wbuld enable plane passengers from the north to travel south without delay. In the course of the discussion, the view was expressed that the time for the establishment of a feeder air service to Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru, both north and_ south, was well overdue.

The matter of a public weighbridge for heavy vehicles in Ashburton was brought forward by Mr McElrea, and it was decided to canvass those likely to be interested with a view to carrying the project through by the floating of a limited company for the purpose. It was further resolved to solicit the interest and support of Federated Farmers in the proposal. Mr Cullen, in the absence from Ashburton of the president, presided over the meeting.