WHAKATANE BUSINESSMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 28, 26 November 1943, Page 5

WHAKATANE BUSINESSMEN

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTERESTS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

"I am glad to see a muster of members well in advance of last wteek's meeting when we failed to get a quorum," said Mr C. F. Thomas, president at the adjourned annual: meeting of the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday evening. Some seventeen members attehdted and a keen enthusiastic atmosphere prevailed. Those present Avere Messrs G. JDainton, T. H. Fergusson, W. Brid..ger, G. Brabant, T. Hall, L. King, A. J. Canning, E. R. Dillicar, Rex Morpeth, 11. Warren, F. Abbott, JE. R. Rumson, 1. Hubbard, C. Good, (secretary), C. Kingsley-Smitli. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted the •latter allowing a credit balance of £23 accumulated funds. The election of officers resulted;— President: Mr C. F. Thomas. Vice-president: Mr Rex Morpeth. Secretary-Treasurer: Mr C. Good. Council: Messrs E. R. Dillicar, F, M. Abbott, H. Warren, T. Fergus-, son, R. Canning, H. L. King, and jG. H. Dainton. Auditor: • Mr R. Mollgaard. Retailers sub-committee: Messrs iC. F. Thomas,, C. Good, R. Morpeth, C. <£>. Armstrong, W. Bridger, J. D. Rivett, E. Ramson, H. G. jWarrcn., The remuneration of the secretary--Jreasurer Avas: lixed again at £15 15s, Future Meetings A good deal of discussion took place on the. question of future meetings, several speakers contending that the quarterly meetings of the past had not been conducive to-, wards actiA'ely interesting the ordinary members apart from the. council. It was claimed that, if monthly •meetings Avere held there Avould be •a greater'continuity of interest and .the average member Avould have a .better grasp of local questions. Others maintained that with the growing weight of responsibility on the average persons shoulders at the present time,, that the institution •of. regular monthly meetings Avould result, in a very poor attendance ■and further that there Avere not sufficient topics of interest to tlie businessmen to warrant such regular meetings. It Avas finally decided to meet at -two monthly periods. Technical Education Mr F. G. Hubbard, headmaster, •waited, on the Chamber in the inter.ests of the proposal to erect ail iiir • termcdiatc school for Technical • training in this district. He mentioned the fact that his own scheme for permitting bo3'S to gain experience by part-time service, in various lines of industry on a temporary .basis had been turned doAvn by the Education Board. The alternative scheme would mean the cstablisJi--jnent of a technical training centre for boys and girls of Standards 5 ■and 6 onwards Avho would, be trained in .woodwork, metal work and electrical Avork and home-making respect iA 7 ely. The movement had a direct bearing on the interests of the businessmen of Whakatane in A'icw «of the number of jiotential trained -apprentices Avliieh it would create. The meeting decided, to act on the matter at once by making representations on the. Chamber's behalf to the Education authorities. The meeting closed Avith a minder by Mr H. G. AVarren and Mr A. J. Canning of the forthcoming Winter Show meeting which all members urged to attend.