WESTLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1917, Page 3

WESTLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

General Meeting of Committee. A meeting of tbe General Committeo was held at the County Chambers last evening at 7.80 o'clock. There were present,—Messrs R. Wiid (chair), W. J. Butler, 0. M. Malfroy, T W. Duff, J. J. .Mclntosh, A. Aitken, P. Ronton, M. H. Houston, C. Sellers, P. Stewart, T. Brook, W, WilsoD, J. King, A. Ar.drowes, and D. J. Evacß (bon secretary.)

An apology was made • for the absence of the President (Mr Perry.) The minutes cf ths previous meeting were read and confirmed and outward correapondeuca read .and approved. inward correspondence. From H.M. Trades Commissioner notifying visit to Hokitika. Received. The Secretary reported on tbe result of the visit of Mr Dalton to the district. From Hon Minister of Pablia Works acknowledging copy of resolution re Otira Tunnel—Received. From General Manager Tonrist Department promising to support any it presentation for assisting in procuring bettor train facilities. Receive.*. Frrm Town . Clerk, Kumara, apof rf/olatiou in connection

with electrification of O ira Tunnel and pnshirg on corop’etion of the tunnel. —Received; From Westland County Council stating a fur;her coufere< C 3 was beirg held in conneciun with supply of lime aud promising Hssis'aucp.— Received. It was reported tha’ the matter was being dealt with by re; resentativesof the local bed e% ai d they were now awaiting a visit cf Mr McTaggart to select the best site for a limekiln. From Department of Agriculture, ( promising consideration to the request for treatment of red pine tairar*v ’yud and referring suggestion of afforestation to tbe Lands Depar -

raent—Received. Mr Butler moved that the Commissioner of Crovn Laods be written to suggesting that be offer a site for the agricultural farm from woiked out timber land. Seconded by Mr Mclntosh and carried. Mr Evans suggested that tha Hokitika Borough Council be urged to offer Park Reserve on the Kanieri and Hau Hau roads for the agricultural farm 10 Government;, an area of 200 acres. After discussion the suggestion was moved - as a motion, seoonded by Mr Duff and carried. From Under-Secretary Lands Department Wellington, the

question of afforestation was rtCMiviog the attention of thd Government bdc ' ~ a report was being received. — Received. From Manager Bhmicghatn G> zfftt forwarding copy of publication. —Re- ,, y ceived. From Postal Djparlment, letters rc mail service (published yesterday).— Received. Mr Aitken moved that, the Minister of Public Works be asked to r6VOte the amounts on last year’s estimates for renewal of police office and quarters and sergeant’s residence. Seconded by Mr Duff and carried - after it was stated that the Minister ■ had been approached oo the subject during his recent visit and had staled there was no possibility of the expenditure he'ng incurred at present. It was resolved on the motion of Messrs Evans and Butler ill it application be mads for tbs registration of the rules and the incorporation of the Chamber. It was decided to Rgein write to the Agricultural Department, to enquire when Mr Ritchie was going to pay his promised visit to Westland in con-

nection with the satt’ement of soldiers on the laua.l An aooouui ivas passed for payment amounting to £2 8/9. AN INTERVIEW Mr Mellor, D,strict Traffic Manager of Railways, was presout to hear the views of the Chamber in connection with the application for an improved train service to H-ikitika in connection with the overland service. The Chairman welcomed and introduced Mr Msllor. Mr Evans outlined the wishes of the Chamber on the uubje v, pointing out tbs details of the nqaett which had already been put befo.-e tie authorities oo many occasions. He* pointed out that the Ooambac .did not desire tny i-xtra trains. What was asked for was a speeding up so as <o enable the through connection to be made on Tuesdays and Thuiv.diys and a through conned ion to Christchurch from Ross on Saturdays. It was pointed out that the Westland section was 000 of the paying lines in the Dominion. The through couoecL ! J .. t -I. J

tion on & Tnead:>y night would also enable the mails to go through to South Westland on the Wednesday, g a convenience that would be of decided value to the South people. Messrs Malfroy and But*er spoke 0 in support, tho Chairman then fur--3 tber outlining their desires on the subject. It was considered that if the train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass saved a quarter of an hour and the coach service was reduced by three quarters of an hour r that the train at Greymouth for ’ Hokitika, if delayed 40 minutes, ehould be able to connect with the ■ tram from Otira. 1 JIR mellor’s reply 3 Mr Mellor said he was not thera to negotiate, but he was glad to hear a summary of their requests and would duly make representations about them tc headquarters. Several statements had been mp.de which

had somewhat reflected on hia department’s tignies in connection with booking of tickets. These had not been as much as suggested, as the guard always advised as to the passengers going through. In connection with the through service the Railway Depft'tment was not responsible for the coach service and he might mention t at qut> recently the coach proprietors had asked for additional time for the coach journey to be eTjwed. Tue possibilities of ehoiteniog ihe train times from Chris church to Arthur’s Pass and from Ocira to Gr<ymouth are very slender. The Chiis’church train was the only morning train and cannot b? made to run fa«*tr fiiio it does aid ac the same time serve the country it rnus through. If made an txpr-48 they cou'd 6ave ha ; t au hour, but it would ueoeasitate another tr>.iu to serve the distiict stations. The same thing applies on the Westland side. They can only keep to the present time-table when they 1 have bogie wagons. If they increased the pace they could not take anything but passengers, and that would prevent stock or other goods being taken through. If an express was run from both ends it would mean other trains would have to be run to carry the ordinary traffic and this would entail the extra expense mentioned in the oorr6?pcnderce. The train from Christchurch was arranged in connection with the intet-lsland service and a request had been made of late, in view of the connection being missed so often recently, for the train to be started even later than it did at present. The propositions of the Chamber were not so easy as they looked but he would be pleased to make representations accordiug to the notes he had taken. In connection with the request for the delaying of the Wednesday morning train to Ross so as to enable mails to go down, he poioted ont that if this were done it would mean au hour’s delay in loading of timber tracks, and as timber was the main revenue of the line this had to have their considertion, as it would mean special trains on occasion to overcome the delay. In connection with the delaying of the train from Greymouth to Hokitika on Tuesdays and Thursdays to connect with the overland service, which would mean a delay of hours at least. If a plebescite of the residents along the line offered no objection, then h 9 would not have objection thereto to meet their wishes. In connection with a through train from Ross on Saturdays to connect with the overland train he pointed out that it would be necessary to leave an honr earlier than at present. The Department’s objection to this course was the long honrs of the men on duty, as the day would extend from 4.40 a.m. to 10.20 p.m. Even this could be arranged if the community were unanimous in the matter.

Before concluding Mi Mellor mentioned tnat a suggestion had bean made to alter the name of “ Ho-Ho ” station so as not to clash with the Post Office location three miles away, and he &Bked for suggestions as to a suitable name, It was generally considered that “ Three Mile,” the name by whioh the locality has been known for so many year?, would be the most suitable.

The Chairman expressed bis appreciation of the manner in which Mr Meilor had listened to their representation?, and he thanked him for his lucid explanation of the attitnde of the Department. He trusted that every consideration possible would be given to the requests put before him and that they would be met wherever possible. Mr Mellor thanked members for his courteous reception and the meeting terminated at 10 o’olock.