CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4599, 10 September 1923, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“WITHOUT A HOME.” PERMANENT ROOMS. REFUSEDAt, Thursday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council a deputation from the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce comprising the president (Mr E. W. Porritt) and vice-president (Mr P E. Brenan) waited on the council with reference to securing the county chambers as a permanent place in which to hold its meetings. In stating the case for the chamber of commer.ee, Mr Porritt pointed out that it was not a club or a sports body, but comprised a body of citizens banded together for the purpose of promoting ttjhe interests and advancement of Paeroa and district. No member received any personal gain from the chamber. Its members were out for the common good. It was not in any way a, financial body, in the past the Borough Council had graciously loaned its premises for the holding of meetings, but the time had now come when the membership of the chamber had grown to such au extent that the seating accommoda.tion was too small. The chambe, had also had the use of the Criterion buildings for some .time,, but now that room had been subdivided and leased as offices, so the chamber was without a home. It was very, necessary to have a definite meeting place for the bi-monthly meetings, as the place of meetings had to be shown on the notices sent to members. Mr Porritt said that the chamber was quite prepared to pay a sum for the cleaning of the County Chambers after its meetings, and it would also contribute towards .the cost, of lighting if necessary. He would ask the Council to be favourably consider its request for and grant the chamber the.use of the chambers. ; Mr P. E. Brenan said that he could only endorse what Mr Porritt had said. The chamber was most grateful for what the Council had done for it in t,he past. As the chamber was out to do its best soleily to further the interests of Paeroa and district he trusted that the Council would look at the matter in thait, light and favourably cosnider its request for the .use of the chambers. In reply to the deputation the chairman (Mr A. R. Robinson) said that at a previous meeting •of the chamber Mr E. Edwards had inferred that as Qw County Chambers had been built principally with a grant made to commemorate the King’s Coronation the Chamber of Commerce had a right to the use of the room for holding its meetings. He took exception to the altitude adopted by Mr Edwards. The County Council had received a grant of £250 towards .the building, but the major portion of the money had been found by the council. When the Paeroa. Borough was formed he thought that the building had been regarded as an asset, and as su<'h an equitable adjustment had been made with the County Council. The chairman said that the matter of allowing the use of the .room for the purpose of holding meetings rested with the clerk, Mr R. W. Evans. The council had found him fair and reasonable at all times, and he had the full confidence of the council. No doubt, if application was made to the clerk for permission to use the room for a meeting there wouild be ho objection, but the council was no,t prepared to give a definite time or date for meetings without rescinding a former resolution that had stood on the books for many years.

.In reply to the Council Mr Porritt said that the remark referred to by the chairman had been made by one of the membes of the. chamber at its last meeting, but he felt sure that it was not generally agreed with by the members as a whole. The chamber wa« quite appreciative of the help extended to it in the past by the County Council. The deputation then withdrew. After considerable discussion the following resolution wa,s moved by Cr. P. Corbett: “That this Council sees no reason to after the resolution at present standing on its books.” Cr, Morgan seconded, and the motion was carried.