CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4542, 21 March 1923, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the above was attended by the president, Mr EW. Porritt, and Messrs T. Kenny, W. Marshall, W. D. Nicholas, L. E. Cassrels, E. Edwards, C. Topliss, E. A. Porritt, B. Stansfield, T. P. Vuglar, J. Brown, G. P. de Castro, and N. S. Cassrels. HALF-HOLIDAY. The president said that, a deputation from Netherton was to wait ni the Chamber that evening with reference to the half holiday question. A meeting at Netherton, however, prevented them coming in. There was a strong feeling in the country that the half-holiday should not be on Saturday. Country people claimed that that was the only day they could conveniently leave home and do their shopping, as the children were not. at school. Mr Vuglar said that the businses men in Paeroa were not alive to their own interests. He could' not understand why Paeroa 'ever adopted Saturday as a half-holiday. The president moved that an invitation be sent to the Business Men’s Association to send delegates to the next meeting of the Chamber'in order to give its views on the matter. It was decided to place the matter on the order paper for next meeting, which is to be held on April 17. PAEROA-POKENO LINE. Mr Marshall said that it was prette clear from Mr Coates’ remarks that the route of the Paeroa-Pokeno line had not been decided, and he thought the Chamber should move and endeavour to get the matter pushed on. He moved, “That in view 1 of the early completion of the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast railway the Minister of Public, Works be respectfully requested to decide on the details of the work required on the route of the proposed Paeroa-Pokeno section, and push on with the preliminary plans and work with a view to letting a contract for carrying on that, section at an early date. That a, copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Auckland Railways League, Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce, and Hauraki Plains County Council with a request that they support the resolution.”

Mr Vuglar seconded the resolution, which, after a prolonged discussion, and an amendment proposed by Mr E. Edwards, was eventually carried. Mr Edwards contended that it was not wise to bring up the question of route. That wqs what the Minister would probably welcome. They should continue to' agitate. RESTORATION OF LICENSES. Notice of motion was given for next meeting that this Chamber urge upon the Government to give licenses to those towns,, situated in a no-licensed area, which had shown by a threefifths majority at the last election its desire to have licenses, and generally to have a redistribution of licenses on a population basis.