WHAKATANE BUSINESSMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 31, 8 December 1944, Page 5

WHAKATANE BUSINESSMEN

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETS

REVIEW OF YEAR'S WORK

Thc only unfortunate aspect of the

annual meeting of the Whakatane. Chamber of Commerce was the poor attendance of its members, a I'ea-

ture which was widely remarked on and roundly condemned by those who were present and constituted the necessary quorum. The president's report showed a useful and active year of work, whilst, the balance sheet a credit of £36 7s 3d. The most outstanding announcement was

the fact that the total membership was 113. compared with the twelve who attended the meeting could hardly be described as an advertisement for the interest and loyalty of the. average Whakatane businessman .

The president Mr C. F. Thomas i ' ; read a comprehensive annual report, which dealt l'ully with the activities of the Chamber over the past twelve months. Subjects handled were the Kojieopeo 'bus run ( Airport Board, Rural Mail service, Technical Education Post Office accommodation 9 '9 Road Services fares, Beautifying Committce f Whale Island Rural Lists, Suggested Whakatane Creche and Proposed Railway Site. The president concluded by urging that greater interest be shown by the average busincscsman in Chamber affairs. The election ol' officers resulted as under:— President: Mr H. G. Warren. Vice-president: Mr E. R. Diilicar. Secretary and Treasurer: Mr C. W. Good. Council: Messrs C. F. Thomas, R. Morpeth E. Ramsey G. Dainton, L. Rosenfeldt. Auditor: Mr R. Mollgaard. Retailers.' Sub-committee: Messrs ic. S. C. F. Thomas, W. Bridger, E. H. G. Warren, F. Abbott Rl Morpeth. Secretary: Mr C. Good. ■The question of easing the abrupt access from Commerce Street into Domain Road, was introduced by Mr Warren who said that the sharpness of the turn could quite easily lead to a serious accident j unless steps were taken to round off the tongue of land which encroached from the western corner. ft Avas decided that the Borough Council be asked to have the corner checked with a view to having the entrance made safer and easier for traffic. In the Chamber's opinion the corner was regarded as highly dangerous. president appealed to all members to support the Winter Show Association which body was on the point of considering whether or not it would be prepared to promote its usual exhibition this year. lie meii-i tioned also the shifting of the Bay of Plenty Cricket Association's centre from Rotorua to and also emphasise,d the need to have businessmen well behind the sport in order that the town should do justice. to the honour. The question of affording the W.D.F.U. Federation the support of the Chamber in its; efforts to establish a nursery for the purpose, of enabling town and district mothers who were compelled to go to hospital or to take a holiday, to leave their young children in a-properly equipped and controlled institution, was raised by Mi/ C. Kingsley-Smith, who stressed the need for such an institution -which he contended was deiinitcly a community responsibilitv and should lie supported by 5 everybody. The President, Mr Warren } said the matter wa. v - a big one } -which would mean the acquisition of a building and Lhe setting up of an administrative organisation. However there was no denying that, the proposition was a very worthy one which warranted deep consideration. He. suggested therefore that the subject be placed on the agenda for full discussion at the next meeting of the, Chamber. This course was decided upon.