HASTINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 127, 15 June 1937, Page 12

HASTINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Work Accomplished During Past Year ACTIVITIES REVIEWED U iSSAm »— A review of the year's activities oi the Hastings Chamber of Commerce is given by the pfesideiit, Mr. H» W,. C. Baixd, in his anixual repOrt to be pre* s-ented to the chamber at its annual tneetxhg next Mondayi— "Empire CongresS. — The most noteworthy occurrence during the year waS the holding, in . Wellington in OetobOr df the fourteenth eongress of the Fed4 ^ration ef Chambers of Commerce of tke British Empire. This chamber was represented by Messrs. H. W. C. Baird (president) and J. S. McLeod (past president). At the coiiclusida of. the eongress, the overseas delegates toured New Zeaand, about half of.the' party visiting Hawke's Bay, where- they were entertained by the Hastings and N&pief t Chambers of Commerce. Retired President and Secretary.--During the year MOssfs. J. S. McLeod, who had held the ofB.ce of president for ten years, and F. Perfin, SOCretary i'or foxix'teeix yeafS, retii'ed. A compli1 ! inentary luncheon was tendered those gentlemen and a presentatiOn was made to eaeh in slight reeognition of theif yalued services to the chamber. ^Luncheon Meetings. — Two othef luncheon meetings were held, at ' the ilrst of which Col. A. J. Manson gav# dn • inf Ormative addi'ess On 1 'Defence" and at the latter Mr. M. G. C. McGaul, president of the Assoclated Chanxbers of Commerce of New Zealand, spoke ott some matters of vital importance td the business eommunity. " Addresses at Mdnthly Meetings. — - •Short addresses at monthiy meetings of the chamber . have been given by Messrs. C. H. Marfin (Government Plaeoment Service), J. S. Butler , (travels), and F. E. Sxnith (scenery preservationY.

Tourist Ptfblicity. •'East Coast Publicity Booklet. — -li conjunetiOn with the Chambers of Com xnerce at Napier, Wairoa, Gisborne and " Opotiki, a booklet has been prepared setting out the attractions of tlxe Easl Coast route for tourists. Contributions suflicient to ehable six pages to be allotted to Hastings were obtained in thii town and the booklet has now been .iisued, copies being sent at intervals tc tourist agents, hotels, steamship.com panies, etc^, both in New Zealand and overseas. The piibileation has been th subject of mueh favourable commenl and is in great demand. ' ' Ii ailway ROlling Stoch.— itop'i'eseil tat'ions were made to tho Minister oi Raiiways with a view to having thd old carriages dn the Wellington anc Palmeiiston North* trains replaccd bj more modern vehicles. It is pleasing ro repOrt that this has now been done ' ' Hastings Post Offiee. — An endeaVour was made to have local mails foi Twyford, Pakowhai, Haumoana and other ontlying districts forwarded di rect from Hastings instead of being sent through Napier. The department StatBS that no ehange can be made in the present arrangements as far ai Twyford is concerned, but neverthelesl our efforts have been siiceessful inso far as direct deliveries to Pakowhai and Haumoana have recently been iuxtituted. "Forest and Scenery Preservation.— This chamber was invited to Send a daf legate to the conference recently ealled in Wellington by the Hon. W. 'Parrv, Mr. F. E. Smith, whose interest ii these matters is widely known, attendcd; and the chamber has been invited to forward recommendations. in counection with the setting-np of local eouncils to deul with these matters. It ie very gratifying to report that Mr. F E. Smith has been appointed a membei of the Hutclxinson Domain Board. . B-Olasg StatiO&E. "B" Radio Stations. — ^itepresenttttions were made to the Government lii conneetitm with the proposed taisxiigover of B Stations, with a strong l'ucommendation that before the matter is finalised the fnllest inlormation be given to licence-holders in the districl afieeted together . with an opportunity to express their Views on the subjcct "Hastings Eailway Station. — The question ef a new railway station foi Hastings, as well as that 'of providln;; adequate* safegdards at the railW&y crossings, was taken up by this chamber with the Minister of Railwuys. His Wofshxp the Maydf is shertly callihg a meeting of those interesteu in Ihe matter, with a view to having furthei representatioUS maflei ' f Irrigation. — An investigation Oi some seheMe for irrigatxflg the Here taanga Rlains ii favouretl by this chamber and a suggestion Was made te his Worship the Mayof that & .preliminary meeting bf iiltferested OfganiS&cions be called to discuss the matter; The propes&d meetiiig has bo8n deferrCd in the mehritime, ks it 1 is uMorstood • that certaiii reeommendations are to be axade shortly by the Soil Survey DiVision of Iildiistriai and Seientific Researeh. ' ' Other matters dealt with have bfeCn 'as feliow:-y-Hxpoft of New Zealalid tiinbdr, land and iiiCome taxatidn, toxvr planiiilxg, local-body aiixaigamalioti ..xhpiio tShoppiiig Week, popuiabion, radio adVbHijsiug, friiitgrowers' lossfes, deeimai eoiuage, juiilor uhambex: ul eomiucrcc; iaU-eai- transport: "Membership. — -Tlie xuembership xidn stands at 9f, tefi new meifibefS having beCn enrolled during Ihe year. "Finance. — It will be noted that the yea-r's working shows a small surplus. ' and there is every reason to believe that tue present year wiii see tlie fiixanccs in a mueh stronger position. "Thanks: The thanks of the chamber are due to tlxe meihber foi- the distriet. Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P., to tlie Borouglx Council and the County Coutieil for their co-6peration, and" to ' tlie Press for the generous publicity the,t have given to our activities. ' '