CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4628, 21 November 1923, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

REGULAR MEETING. There was a fair attendance at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce held in the Coronation Chambers las:, evening, when the president, Mr E. W. Porritt, presided. One new member was elected. BANK HOLIDAYS. The president said that he had been asked to bring tihe matter of the bank holiday on account of the Hamilton show before the chamber. It was felt that it was an inconvenience to business men, and, further, it was an absurdity to close for the Hamilton show. It seemed that the holiday had been granted many years ago, and perpetuated. It was felt by many that no useful purpose could be served by having a holiday for the Hamilton show. After discussion Mr L. E. Cassrels moved, and Mr D. Leach seconded, that the local bank managers be interviewed in connection with the closing of the. bank on Hamilton Show day, pointing out the inconvenience to the local public, and tp see if tjie matter could be discontinued. GOVERNMENT VALUATIONS. It was pointed out by a member that there was an unnecessary delay in getting Government valuations completed for loan purposes, and that it took from three to five months, and sometimes longer, for a Government Advances loan to be obtained after lodging the application. The president said that recently a valuer had been appointed at Te Aroha, besides the permanent one at Morrinsville. He thought and knew that one was urgently wanted in Paeroa. It was impossible for the present district valuer at Morrinsville ■to cover the district, -and considered it would be a good thing for the district to have a local valuer. Mr Cassrels said that they should be like other places, especially Hamilton, and endeavour tp centralise all these things. Mr Leach said that if the speakers were convinced that a valuer was required for this district the chamber should move in that direction. Mr Cassrels said that he had a personal experience of the delays, and traced the trouble to the Hamilton office. Mr P. E. Brenan thought that the apppintment of a valuer for this district was a very desirable thing, and he moved, that the Minister be requested to make an appointment of a valuer for this district with headquarters at J?aeroa. It was decided tp ask Mr Poland's assistance in. the matter. The motion was seconded by Mr G. P. de Castro and carried. NGAHINA WHARF. In replying to the resolution of the last meeting of the chamber with reference to the use of the Ngahina Wharf the Northern Steamship Co. wrote as follows :— “We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 2nd inst. conveying to us a resolution passed by your chamber on September 19 last to the effect that you- intend asking the Public Works Department to get in touch with the Northern Company with a view of endeavouring to arranging for the shipping company to shift to the Ngahina wharf and abandon our present site. We notethat this resolution has been passed on to the Minister of Public Works. “As regards this matter, We have on various occasions discussed this proposal with the Public Works Department, but so far have-not been able to get anything satisfactory from .them, and until such time as we can be sure of occupation of the Ngahina wharf on favourable terms to the company, and which will not prejudice shippers, we are not prepared to make a move. “We offered to rent the wharf from the Public Works Department, and pointed out to them that by our doing so we would take over the duties of their present wharfinger, which would save them a salary of some £3OO a year. “Under present arrangemnets consignees of cargo at Paeroa pay no wharfage or storage charges to the company, but if we Were to shift down to the lower wharf wharfage would be immediately charged on the eo.ds, and would have to be paid by consignees. “However, we would be quite prepared to-further discuss this matter with the Public Works Department, who, no doubt, will again approach us on receipt of your resolution.” FURTHER POLICE FOR PAEROA. In replying to a question from a member as to what -action the Minister took with reference to the resolution of the chamber asking for a second constable for Paeroa Mr Porritt said the Minister had replied that a second constable was not required. The reply, Mr Porritt. said, hardlv met the case. Everybody knew of the great number of acts of vandalsim and thefts that had taken place over a very long period, and the police single-handed had no chance whatever of getting on to the work. Constable McClinchy was a very active man, but it was not possible for him to work the whole 24 hours of the day. Mr Alps suggested that a petition might help the matter. Mr Porritt moved, and Mr P. E. Brenan seconded. that the chamber take steps to obtain a petition signed by the business men of Paeroa to be presented to the Minister of Justice with a view to obtaining a second constable. DUST NUISANCE.’ That there is a real. necessity for a water-cart in Paeroa was well illustrated last week, and the matter was brought up for discussion last night. Mr Porritt said that possibly the chamber should put in a requisition to the Council. The dust was very bad, and caused great inconvenience. Mr Brenan said that the Council had just decided to put Normanby Road’down in bitumen, and this would do away with a very great deal of the .lust nuisance. It was intended to start the work as soon as the position

of the new post'offiee was definitely known. - Mr de Castro suggested that in the meantime the chamber should request that the hose be turned on oftener, and earlier in the morning. He thought that the streets should be watered two or three times a day. He moved that the Borough Council be requested to take steps to abate the dust nuisance in Normanby Road by more frequent use of the hose and also watering the streets early in the morning. Seconded by Mr Porritt and carried. > GAS SUPPLY. Mr de Castro said that the supply of gas' at the present time was simply shocking,' and he also considered the meter rent an imposition. There was scarcely any heat in the gas, and it took over four hours to epok a joint of meat which should be easily cooked in 2% hours with the gas anything like standard. He understood that the Gas Company was supplying gas under an agreement made with the county, and he thought the chamber should have the matter looked into. The gas was far below standard. Hemoved that a letter be sent to the secretary of the Ohinemuri Light and Power Co., Ltd, pointing out the poor quality of the gas supplied and asking the company to take immediate steps to improve it, and also to discontinue the charge for meter rent. Seconded by Mr W. Bain and carried. PLAINS WATER SUPPLY. , Mr D. Leach said that seeing there was a likelihood of a conference of local bodies on the matter of a -water supply for the Plains he thought the chamber should take the matter up. Some years ago a report on the Wai-, tawheta supply'Was made by a Government department, but at the time it appeared too costly. The time was not far distant when the plains and many other highly productive areas would be divided into allotments of 20 acres, and this-would give a tremendous population in this district. Paeroa, he considered, was very much interested in the Plains water supply, and also in a supply for its own future use. Seeing that the plains people were prepared to confer on the matter he thought that the Borough, and also the Ohinemuri Coiinty, should take the matter uo a’ncl go into the facts. There was no doubt that it was going to be a good thing for all parties. The big supply was at Waitawheta, and easily harnessed. Mr Porritt said that there was little doubt that it would be a good thing for Paeroa and the county, and in view of the conference the matter should be looked into. Mr Leach moved that in view of the coming conference it be a suggestion that the Borough Council and Ohinemuri County Council look into the matter of the' water supply for Hie Plains from the Waitawheta source. Mr Cassrels seconded the resolution, which was carried. GOVERNMENT BATTERY. The matter of a Government batters for the use- of prospectors was again brought up. Mr Leach stated that he had learnt that there was a likelihood of the Talisman battery being closed and dismantled. The trouble at the present time was that prospectors with small samples could not afford to get th«m crushed, as the cost was prohibitive owing to the size of the plant. Mr Brenan said that it would be a good thing for the chamber to find out what quantity of ore was awaiting or was likely to be at Karangahake for treatment. When the Mininster of Mines was coming through the district the chamber could wait upon him with a view to getting a Government battery. The chamber would require to have all the facts. He moved to that effect, and the resolution was carried. CATTLE ON WATERSHED. It was decided to draw the attention of the Ohinemuri County Council to the fact that a large number of qattle were wandering on the watershed reserve and causing the pollution of the water supply, and ask that body to take immediate steps to have the evil remedied. LADIES’ REST ROOM. That there is a real need for a ladies’ rest roonj in Paeroa was supported by several business men at the meeting, and after a long informal discussion the following resolution was passed: “That the attention of the Paeroa Borough Council be drawn to the urgent need of providing a temporary ladies’ rest room fo Paeroa, pending the provision of a permanent one, and that steps be taken to provide the same at once.”