BUSINESSMENS' INTEREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 3, 4 September 1945, Page 5

BUSINESSMENS' INTEREST

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETS

NEW POST OIFFIpE

Mr H. G. Warren presided over ! a meeting of the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening. Present: Messrs C. F. Thomas i P. G. Green P. Coutts F. Abbott, 9 9 A. J. Canning Coatcs Geo. Dainf 9 ton ? Churcbhouse ) G. Kemp, R. Shirley T. E. R. Dillioar and the Secretary Mr C. W. Good.

The secretary stated that as, a result of the referendum regarding the desirability or otherwise of the Chamber lin'king up with! the Associated Chambers of Commerce sixty members had favoured the move and eight had voted against it, of a total of 115 members. The second question as to whether members were willing to increase the annual subscription from 10/- to £1/1/- in order to permit of the above affiliation the following was the result: —

Willing to pay 1 guinea .. 48 Willing to pay 12/6 11 Willing to pay 15/- 1 Against any increase ...... 7 67 On the motion of Mr A, Canning the meeting agreed to carry out the obvious desire of the majority } to become a member of the Association and also to increase the annual subscription. Introducing the question! of the new Post Office the chairman said that ifc was time thie businessmen of this town rallied round the subject again. The last time it had. been handled was in April of last year and it was now a long-standing complaint that should have been remedied 15 years ago. He suggests ed that with the post.war period now upon us ? a communication should go forward to the Minister urging that the building should be placed on the highest priority list. Messrs Canning and Thomas spoke in strong support and on the motion of the chairman it was decided to make the representations accordingly. United Victory Welcome

Mr Canning mentioned that in the past men returning from overseas

had been welcomed in small groups. He suggested therefore that all forthcoming welcomes be postponed until some time in when a special combined Victory Parade and welcome could be held at which all the men oould be guests. He quoted from a speech made by fche Mayor of Auckland who is trying to arrange such a celebration in Auckland,

Mr Thomas favoured the suggestion and carried it further by suggesting that on that occasion it '9 might be possible to request the Govern to carry out the investiture of those local men who had won decorations. He argued that this might seem out of the question but the prospects were that His Excellency would probably be in the district during the fishing season. The chairman declared himself in strong accord and mentioned the possibility of a combined district picnic.. On the motion of Mr Canning it was decided to refer the matter to the Mayor and the County, asking them to take appropriate measures to arrange for a Welcome Home and Victory Day at a suitable date when most of the overseas men have returned 5 such occasion to embrace both town and district.