CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4664, 20 February 1924, 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. the president (Mr E. W. Porritt) presiding over a small attendance of members. AFFILIATION OF CHAMBER. Affiliation with the Association of N.Z. Chambers of Commerce was discussed at some length. Mr Marshall thought that the levy of 2s 6d per member with a minimum fee of £2 2s appeared to be too heavy Mr L. E. Cassrels was of the opinion that it would be a good policy from an advertising point of view to affiliate. No action was taken. RAILWAY TICKETS. In reply to the Chamber’s reques: that weekly railway tickets for all stations should be stocked at the local railway station the General Manager, advised that tickets were already stocked for stations to which there was a regular demand. In other cases the tickets were supplied by the district traffic manager at Auckland on requisition as required. The letter advised that the departmental commercial agent would be visiting Paeroa in the near future, and would call on the chamber. The president said that the agent bad not yet called on him, and it was decided to defer the matter until the agent was interviewed. TOUR OF BUSINESS MEN. In,reply tp the request of the local chamber that Paeroa should be included in the itinerary of the tour of Auckland business men through the district the Hamilton body advised that definite arrangements had not been concluded, and in any case the tour had been postponed until March. Mr Marshall said he would like to endorse the action of the president and secretary in endeavouring to arrange for Paeroa to be included in the to.ir, and the matter was left in their hands, with the suggestion that the Auckland chamber be written to. NIGHT TRAIN TO AUCKLAND. The Te Arolia Chamber of Comm?rce wrote asking ior support in its endeavours to have the present 5.40 p.’n. Paeroa-Frankton train speeded up to connect with similar “wild cat” trains from Rotorua and the King Co'intiy and run through tp Auckland, thus obviating the transhipping and tedious delay at Frankton. Mr Marshall said it was necessary to look at the matter from a national .standpoint. The president stated that Paeroa would be asked to supply data, als tithe support that would be accorded such a project. He thought that a direct train would be an advantage. On the motion of Mr Marshall, seconded f»y Mr Stansfield, it was decided to support the request, but with the provision that the chamber would not press for the train if the department ■thciight the cost would be too heavy for the benefits received. . GOVERNMENT VALUERS. The Valuer-General advised that his department did’’not contemplate appointing any further permanent valuers at present, and pointed out that the local valuers were able to cone with the increased*requirements for valuation of properties for the purposes of the State Advances Act, and that such State advances were being dealt with expeditiously. It was decided to ask the ValuerGeneral to reconsider the request. BAND AT RACES. Mr Cassrels asked if the chamber should not make a recommendation to the Oliinemuri Jockey Club to secure the services of a band to render selections during the two race days in Paeroa. He thought that such a step would be appreciated by the public. Mr P. E. Brenan said that experience had proved that race patrons were a unique crowd, and did not welcome a band als: it had the tendency to detract attention from the environs of the racecourse. To obtain a baud would mean an expenditure of approximately £3O by the club, and he was of the opinion that such expenditure. would not be justified. However, as a member of the committee of the club, he would be pleased to place any suggestion that the chamber might make before it, but would give no undertaking that he would support the suggestion.

Mr Marshall thought that the chairbcr was hot so constituted as to be in a position to criticise the action of local sports bodies or make recommendations. He would like to see the chamber keep within its province, and asked the president to give his ruling.

The president said he thought that anj- recommendation from the chamber would certainly be outside its .scope, and as much as he would like to see a band on the racecourse, he was not prepared to accept any resolution from the chamber to the Jockey Club. LICENSING QUESTION.

In reply to Mr Stansfield’s inquiry as to what was the position so far as the chamber’s endeavours to get a license for Paeroa were concerned, the president said that the members would no doubt remember what steps the chamber had taken in May last. The correspondence had all been forwarded io Wellington for the Prime Minister’s consideration, but owing to his absence overseas the matter had been allowed to reist. The president said he had every reason to believe that legislation would be provided amending the existing licensing laws during the session in June. The Prime Minister fully recognised that there were decided reasons in favour of amending the present licensing laws. Replying to Mr Brenan, Mr Porritt said, he thought that when licensing legislation was brought down it would be a non-party measure. GENERAL. The president and Messrs Marshall and Brenan the progress made in connection with the hospital and post office for Paeroa, both of which matters have been fully reported in the “Gazette” recently.