Chamber of Commerce.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 168, 27 July 1901, Page 3

Chamber of Commerce.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held last evening in the Borough Council Chambers, when the following members were present:—Messrs AV. Morgan (President), AV. AA’ebb, Humphreys, Garrett, Rosie, Hennessy, Ambridge, O’Meara, and Robinson, and AVhinray. The Committee's report for the past year dealt fully with the work of the Chamber, and was adopted without discussion. The election of officers was then"proceeded with, Messrs Morgan and Matthews being proposed for the position of President. The former declined, as he thought the office should go round, and Air Matthews was not present. Mr Humphreys was proposed, but declined the office.

Mr O’Meara said that the office was one that should be held by a business man. The President of a Chamber of Commerce should certainly be a representative of commerce. Mr Hennessy said that very few business men took an interest in the affairs of the Chamber. He regretted that such was the case. Mr O’Meara : Electing a President who is not a commercial man is not the way to get them to take an interest in the doings of the Chamber. Mr Ambridge was strongly in favor of the position of President being held by a business man. He thought that, seeing that there was such a small attendance that evening, they might defer the appointment of a President. Mr Whinray said that from his observation of the meetings of the Chamber it was hopeless to expect a largo meeting. After further discussion, Mr A. -*F. Matthews was elected President.

There was great difficulty in getting'a Vice-President for the Chamber, as nearly every gentleman who was present in the room declined the office. Messrs Am-

bridge, Whinray, O’Meara, Ilennessy, Garrett, Humphreys, and others were proposod, but one and all had a reason for not accepting the office. Mr Ambridgo stated that he felt that some member who had a greater stake in the district than he had should bo appointed to the office. Mr W. Pettio was proposed for the office, and as he was not present Mr Hennessy offered to go to his house and ascertain if he would consent to stand.

At this stago Mr Matthews arrived, remarking as he entered the room, “ I am sorry that I could not be liore before, but the fact is that if I had left the AVhataupoko Road Board meeting there would not have been a quorum.” Mr Orr also came in with Mr Matthews.

Mr AVhinray, addressing Mr Matthews, said: “You are just in time; you have been elected to the honorable position of President of the Chamber, but we cannot get a vice—there appears to be too much vice about.” (Laughter.)

Mr Matthews : I am afraid that lam undertaking too many responsibilities. Mr -Ymbridge explained to Mr Matthews that bo had objected to him being elected President, for tho reason that ho thought the position should be held by someone actively engaged in mercantile business. Mr Matthews agreed with l\lr Ambridge, stating that he had always contended that tho position should be held by a business man. Had he been present he would certainly not have accepted the office. As ho had been elected President in his absence, it would appear churlish of him not to accept the position. Mr Hennessy, having returned by this time, stated that Mr Pcttie was willing to accept the position of vice-president. Mr Pettio was therefore elected vicepresident. Messrs T. Adair, Morgan, Hennessy, Humphreys, and AVhinray wore elected a committee. As Mr Robinson was anxious to be relieved of the duties of secretary', Mr Lunn was appointed to the position. A bonus of £5 5s was voted to Mr Robinson, and expression made of the highly satisfactory manner in which the secretary’s duties had been discharged.

The following members were elected as a holiday committee : llis W orsliip the Mayor, Messrs Friar, McKee, Garrett, Ambridge, Adams, O'Meara, Pettie, and Kennedy.

Mr Matthews, the newly-elected President, then took the Chair, and briefly returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him. Mr David Whyte, secretary of the Wairoa Railway League, forwarded a petition for signatures urging the prosecution of the railway from Wairoa to Napier. Mr Whinny did not think they should say much about the matter at present. They had a track in their own district which was not making the progress they would like to sec. They should coniine their energies to getting the railway to the Motu. When the time was opportune they would support the Wairoa people. He thought they should urge upon the Government to push on the railway to the Motu. Mo suggested that the petition should be laid on the table, and anyone who cared to sign it could do so. Mr Ambridge concurred with Mr Whinray, but thought that the Chamber might reply to the communication. The President said that the railway should bo pushed on, so that the timber of the Motu could bo made use of.

Mr O’Meara sympathised with the petition. He did not see that the matter could in any way interfere with the Motu line.

Mr Orr thought the Chamber should support the petition. They could not have too many railways. It was decided to allow the petition to lie on the table, and also to write to Mr White expressing sympathy with the movement.

A letter was received from Messrs P. W. Stephenson, A. Cruikshank, P. J. It. Roberts, J. IT. Warren, J. McCutclicon. C. S. Mayston, W. A, Spurdle, and others in regard to the Tahora road. They forwarded a letter which it was proposed to send to the Minister of Lands, urging that the Ohura-Tahora road should be pushed southward until it met the WharekopaeTahora road running northwards, so that connection with the Bay of Plenty would bo established. —It was agreed to support the application. It was decided to urge upon the Govern-

ment the necessity of the construction of a light lino of railway to Whakapunake. Several members spoke on the question of the Motu railway line, and it was agreed to approach the Government, urging the more speedy construction of the line, and also that a commencement of the formation should at once be made from the Motu end. The other recommendations in the report were adopted.