CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. (special to "the raias.") , TIMARU, - r uno 20. The monthly meeting cf the South Canterbury Chamber oi Commerce was held this evening, Mr P. B. Footc presiding over an attendance of twenty members. The Council reported that the year's work had begun auspiciously. The total membership had reached 111 and a further increase was anticipated. The Publicity Committee of the Council had laid down three distinct schemes for the better advertising of Timsru, t-heso being the making known in Otngo n.ml Southland of the town's attractiveness as -a winter report, the publication of an attrarfivn booklet on South Canterbury for circulation at the Dime din, Exhibition. wl

lijc arrangement of week-end excursions to Tnuaru during those portions of the summer months in which the town was not crowded out. Tho most active members of the Timaru Publicity Association realised that tho Chamber of Comrucrco could best do the work for which the Association had originally been formed, and as a result or what they had Ecen of the work of tho Publicity Committee, of which they were now members, they had individually requested that tV- Chamber 6hoti'd be informed that steps were bems taken for the winding up of the Association. During tho past month the .special committee had been activo in pitting into operation its programme for the better advertising of Timaiu. It had been successful in organising the leading hostelrks to the end that the advantages of the town as a winter resort might be stressed in the colder south. The proposal to publish an illustrated booklet showing the advantages of South Canterbury not only as a touust resort, but' also as a splendid residential centre rr.d the natural business centre cf the South Island iiad been launched, r.nd it was hoped' to collect a Bum •>- uoi tliaa i'jtO so that ten os twelve

thousand copies of ihe booklet coald bo produced when the publication of tko booklet was in hand. It was proposed to invite tlio commercial manager of the Railway Department to visit Timaru and discuss tha question of week-end excursions to Timaru from Christcburch and Dunedin doling the months of November and March. The Minister of Railways and the Railway Board had professed a keen interest .in the proposal. The report was adopted. Mr G. Gregg, business agent for the Railway Department in tha district, addressed the Chamber on matters of interest to it and answered a, number of questions. Mr J. Anstcy introduced the subject of the unsatisfactory state of the train scrvicn to Fairlie at the request of Mr C. J. Talbot, chairman of tho Mackenzie County Council. Mr Talbot had stated in a. letter to Mr Anatey that tho train service was so slow and unsatisfactory that it drovo traffic to the roads rather than even maintain it. much less attract it, to the railway. -Mixed trains were chiefly tho emiso of tho delays, and Mr Talbot felt that the running t of specials for part <>i the distance to pick

up goods would result in better tune beio® made. Mr Anstey suggested thai » trial should be made with motor trains for jiwtTiwn on this line, which, iconld be an «lw«Wt one for tha purpeseITr Greg; agreed that the Fiidia snri» was highly unsatisfactory, but he could not ' say more than th»t proposals were afro* for weeding up the •exvice. __ Motor trains 'were as yet only in ihe experimental atat*Mr <51685 was accorded » toI» of _timak* for his address. It 'was decided on the nation of Mr S. B. Bell that recommendations should be taade to the members o{ Parliament for the district, to tha Timaru Haxbour Boaid and to tha Timam Borough Council th*t efiorU should to made to aecsra a Tint to Tumm by ono or of tho •itßcfaea w tho American fleet or, faiHos; Uwt range merits should ba sutdft w * ynmbar «f officers and men of to TMRi Meara.