MEMBERSHIP OF 115

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 184, 24 November 1941, Page 5

MEMBERSHIP OF 115

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CROWING INT BREST OF TOWNSMEN "The Chamber of Commerce was revived in November last year," said the retiring president, Mr W. Sullivan, at the annual meeting last week. "Our objective then was a hundred members. Actually we exceeded that figure and to-day have a hundred and fifteen financial. Among the activities promoted by the Chamber was the New Year's Carnival, which for a first attempt was undoubtedly a great success and a credit to the organiser Mr H. Tennan t. It is hoped to have a modified carnival this year. Eight general meetings have been held and the attendance has been fair. l:t is necessary to see that the attendance is maintained if the Chamber is lo function as it should." After dealing with Mr A. G. Lunn's address, the speaker went on to say that one and all realised the difficulties resulting from the Avar, and fervently hoped that peace would be restored in the near future. The balance sheet which was read and adopted showed a credit of £12. Details were: Income. Subs £56 10s, Account Retailers Association 18s lOd; Account Carnival Committee £47 8s lid. Payments: Postages £4 19s lOd; Advertising and Printing £10 4s 3d; Stationery £3 lis 9d; Hire County Chambers 15s; Legal Fees £1 2s; Secretary remuneration £15 15s; Bank charges, 15s; Grant £5 ss; Carnival Committee contra £47 8s lid. Continuity of Policy Mr R. Schofield counselled the need for an understanding on the question of continuity of policy. Electricity, for instance, he said was to be generated in amply supply for all the needs of the Plains and beyond. There were sources of power which it would seem had been almost put there by the Creator for the benefit of the district yet people were paying the most exorbitant charges to bring it from Arapuni and Walfcaremoana. It could be supplied for half the cost if it were developed locally. The P.W.D. policy of centralising power supply was futile, and even Arapuni to-day was not properly stabilised. Instancing official wastage of plant and material, he said that when the South Island trunk railway was abandoned, thousands of pounds worth of rail and material were deliberately buried. The same procedure attaches to the fate of valuable machinery at the Mount, when the Railway workshops were dismantled —they were simply buried. The country was 'drifting into a form of Dictatorship, because there were not sufficient people to protest. The question ol electric power was one which should be gone into by every Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, and' rerecommended that this matter be not lost sight of in Whakatane.