TOWN GROWING UP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 43, 20 June 1947, Page 5

TOWN GROWING UP

WHAKATANE’S NEW STATUS DISCUSSION BY CHAMBER , It pays to advertise, but the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce has found that the splendid advertisement that the borough has received since the 1945 census gave it a population of about 3000 is an expensive form of publicity. In future the Chamber is required to pay the Associated Chambers of Commerce a levy of 5/- per financial member instead of 2/6 a member levied on towns with a population of under 2000.

Members had been surprised at a recent meeting to receive an account from the Associated Chambers of Commerce for £26 15/- being membership fees to the parent organisation on the basis of 5/- for each of the Chamber’s 107 members. At Tuesday’s meeting members had a reply from the Associated Chambers, which explained that the small towns paid 2/6 per member, the towns over 2000 paid 5/-, and small cities paid 10/- and the four major cities paid £1 1/-.

Growth of Population

It seems that the Associated Chambers of Commerce had been busy studying the latest census returns and had decided that Whakatane’s population, stated to be 3000 brought it into the same class as towns with populations twice and three times as great.

There was some discussion among members as to what really was Whakatane’s population. It was stated that the town had 3000 people if Ohope’s residents numbering perhaps 300 were included, but the actual borough’ was credited with about 2800. This was an increase of about 33 1-3 per cent. The president, Mr R. T. Morpeth, explained the view of the executive that a contribution of 5/- a member was going to make a big gap in the Chamber’s revenue. Whakatane Chamber had a larger number of members in proportion to the size of the town than most towns in New Zealand. They all paid at a flat rate of £1 1/-, whereas in larger towns there was a sliding scale of charges, and big firms paid more than small businesses.

The president remarked that there had been a 100 per cent, response

from business people when the Chamber had a subscription of 10/6, but there had not been such a good response since this was raised to £1 1/-. Chamber’s Large Membership However, there was no doubt that the Associated Chambers did much good in watching legislation, and the Whakatane Cmamber received much useful correspondence. It seemed that Whakatane had perhaps double the number of members in proportion to its size that other Chambers had. The account for £26 15/- was passed for payment, but members expressed the opinion that some remission might be sought before next year, in view of the large membership.

At the suggestion of the president it was decided to invite Mr H. E. Schofield, of the Matamata Chamber, who is a member of the National executive of the Associated Chambers, to visit Whakatane and give a talk on what the Associated Chambers is doing for country businessmen.