CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4587, 18 July 1923, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

81-MONTHLY MEETING. The bi-monthly meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce was held in the Coronation Chambers last evening, when the following were present : The President (Mr E. W. Porritt), and Messrs G. P. de Castro, W. F. Johnstone, G. Buchanan, T. W. Kenny, F. Thorp, C. N. O’Neill, C. Holes, R. I. Roberts, G. H. Taylor, M. A. Pavlak, E. H. Andrews, J. Bertelsen, D, WRobson, E. Edwards, C. P. Topliss,, H. A. Marks, E. V. Slyfleld, S. J. Hendge, L. E. Cassrels, W. Alp, and W. Bain. -Apologies for.absence were received from Messrs P. El Brenan, W. Marshall and W. D. Nicholas. PAEROA POST OFFICE. The Postmaster-General advised that the Chamber’s request to' have the new post office built as soon as possible had received consideration, and the erection would be proceeded with as soon as funds were available. Mr de Castro moved that a copy of the Minister’s reply to the Chamber, together with previous correspondence on the matter, be sent to Mr Poland, and that he be asked to use his best endeavours to have the money required placed on the Estimates during the present sitting of Parliament. Seconded by Mr Buchanan and carried. SUNDAY TELEPHONE. The Postmaster-General advised that with regard to the Chamber’s request to have Jhe Paeroa telephone service open for one hour on Sunday mornings and evenings, he had been able to grant the request, and that the exchange would in future be open from 9 to 'lO a.m. and from 5 to 6 p,m, on Sundays and 9 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. on holidays. AUCKLAND ADVERTISING. The proprietors of the "Auckland Weekly News” wrote soliciting an advertisement from the Chamber for insertion in the 1923 Christmas number of that paper. It was decided to refer the letter to the Business Men’s Association, and that the publishers be informed that under the Chamber's existing financial state the application could not be granted. LIBRARY SEEKS HELP. The secretary of the Paeroa Library Committee wrote asking the Chamber' for support and assistance, botu collectively and individually. It was pointed out by the committee that the library was a distinct asset to Paeroa in that, in addition to having an up-to-date lending department, provision had "been made to have the reading room open daily, and visitors to the town would find rest and recreation, thereby increasing the assets of Paeroa by bringing more business to the town.

The chairman pointed out that the Chamber was not really a financial body, but he was of the opinion tjiat the institution was certainly an asset to the town, and was worthy of support. Mr Cassrels asked what was wrong with applying for the Carnegie grant.

The chairman said that there had been some difficulty in obtaining a grant from that, source as iar as Paeroa was concerned.

Mr Buchanan moved that the library committee be informed that the Chamber could not render any financial assistance, but that it be a recommendation t.o the members to become subscribers. Seconded by Mr Johnstone and carried. WAR MEMORIAL. Mr Cassrels said that if Paeroa was ever going to have a war memorial, he would suggest that a public library be built He was not in favour of a stone or bronze column being erected, and was of the opinion that a library would be a most useful and fitting tribute to the fallen. I.ATE LETTER-BOX. Mr Edwards moved that the Chamber might, approach the Post apd Telegraph Department and request that a late fee letter-box be placed on the Paeroa railway station, and that such box be cleared by postal officials and the late fee letters placed on each departing train from Paeroa. Seconded by tithe president and carried. ADDITIONAL POLICE. The Minister of Justice wrote with reference to the Chamber's request that an additional constable should be stationed at Paeroa. The department pointed out that it considered that, one constable should be able to cope With the work in Paeroa, and that help could always be had from Waihi, therefore an additional constable could itot, be supplied at present, as all available men were required elsewhere in New Zealand. LOCAL OPTION. The Hon. the Minister for Justice advised that the Chamber’s resolution pertaining to licensing matters affecting Paeroa had been ndjted for consideration when any general licensing legislation was brought forward. MEETING PLACE. A reply was received from the Ohinemuri County ' Council stating that it could not grant the Chamber’s request to allow the use of the council chambers for holding regular meetings. The council i>ointed out that it was at all times willing to help any public cause by granting the use of the room for meetings for the purpose of inaugurating any patriotic or philanthropic movement, but it does not desire that the chambers should be used by any club, society, or other body for its regular meetings when once permanently established. Mr Edwards said that he was under the impression that the Coronation Chambers had been built with a grant from the Government to commemorate the coronation of the present King, and that the building was vested in the then governing body, which was Ohinemuri County Council, and he understood that the building was intended for the use of local bodies as a meeting place. After further discussion a sub-com-mittee, comprising the president, the Mayor, Messrs Edwards and Brenan, was set up to wait, on the Ohinemuri

County Council and endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements. CHANGE OF NAME. The General Manager of N.Z. Railways advised that the Chambers’ request to name of the Paeroa station altered to Paeroa Junction had been acceded to, and that in fir* tore the addition of the word "junction” would appear in the railway time-tables. The chairman said that he, in conjunction with the Mayor, had met the District Traffic Manager of Railways on his recent visit to Paeroa and had discussed with him the proposed alteration of .the name of the station. The chairman said that for soma time the Hamilton Chamber had been agitating for an improved railway service to Auckland. Th® Railway Department, to give effect to the wishes of the Waikato people, would have improved the service to the detriment of Paeroa, Thames, and Waihi. Fortunately, this fact was revealed by the traffic manager when in Paeroa, said the chairman, and through the efforts of Mr Marshall and himself the proposal had been strenuously opposed. As a result, it was fairly .safe to assume that the existing railway time-table as far as Paeroa was concerned would not be materially altered. The chairman’s action v<as endorsed by the Chamber, and he was thanked for his efforts in conserving the interests of the railway service in this district NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notice of motion ny Mr E. W. Porritt was tabled: ‘‘That the Chamberteonsiders the advisability of requesting the Public Works Department to proceed with the cut at Waimarie Bend, in lieu of stopbanking round the bend.” Mr W. L. Lawrence gave notice that he would, move the following resolution at the next meeting. “That this Chamber, in order to advertise the district, consider the advisability of asking the co-operatipn of other local bodies and associations to assist in carrying out necessary arrangements to hold a district court at some of the winter exhibitions next year.” He suggested that invitations should be sent to the Hikutaia and Netherton ratepayers to attend the meeting.