LOCAL ENTERPRISE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4701, 21 May 1924, Page 3

LOCAL ENTERPRISE.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT. RESUME OF THE YEAR’S WORK. The following report was submitted at last night’s annual meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce by the executive committee : “Your committee reports that during the past year the Chamber has met on nine occasions, and in addition to minor matters has dealt with a number of matters of importance to Paeroa’ and the surrounding district, among which may be mentioned. Thames Harbour loan poll, Sunday and holiday telephone service, licensing, Paeroa post office, proposed alteration by the Railway Department of the Paeroa-Auckland time-table, manual training school, cut at Waimarie'Bend, river navigation, extra police constable. paerda-Patetonga road, and Paeroa-Pokeno railway. ‘After full consideration your Chamber decided that it was not advisable at the present time to support the. Thames Harbour loan proposals, as the district is more directly concerned with the keeping open and improving, of the navigation of . the Waihoil River, and there appeared to be a prospect that the harbour proposals would be detrimental to the river navigation. “As a result of the efforts of the Chamber an extension of the tele-phone-service to include Sundays and holidays was secured, and this has be*n much appreciated. The Chamber did not relax its efforts during the year to procure more up-to-date and needed postal accommodation, and it is pleasing to. record that after an interview by His Worship the Mayoi with the Hon. the Postmaster-General, a definite step forward was taken, a central site procured by the Department, and preliminary plans authorised .and prepared." The preliminary plans show a coiivenient and up-to-date building of two storeys," in brica, that when completed will be a credit to the. Department and almilding of which the town may be justly proud, and which should meet all * requirements for some years to come. “For departmental reason the Chamber was not successful in getting any advance made in the matter of the erection of a manual training school. •After a conference between the Chamber and the engineer of the Public Works Department the matter of the proposed cut at Waimarie Bend was dropped in favour of the Department’s present scheme. The importance of keeping the navigation of the river open was brought home, not .only to the business people pf Paeroa and to tire residents of the surrounding districts, but also to the Waikato and Rotorua districts, by the recent railway strike. The water-borne freight enabled fa very large district to be served little inconvenience during a period when traffic in the Ci-otricts was suspended, and where the. transport of necessary supplies' was becoming a matter of serious import, "Your Chamber regrets that the justice Department could not see its v ay to appoint an additional police constable in Paeroa, as in its opinion such an appointment is now necessary to meet the requirements of the town anil district. “The provision of direct road communication between Paeroa and Patetonga is an important matter that should, not be lost sight of. Lack U necessary, funds and the fact that w>rks jm the land drainage area ar; a-e hot yetifer enough advanced are' the n?asoMjgiven to the Chamber why, this work cannot-be proceeded with. •The Chamber , has continuously urged that be made w ;th the Paeroa-Pokeno railway. This work hasWefcif delayed until other lines have beep completed, but with the linking up of Waihi and Tauranga by rail within the next two years there are reasouable'grounds for the belief that work on the PaeroaPokeno section will not now be long delayed. The site for the new railv ay station has been surveyed, and a commencement is to be made, with necessary prelimniary work upon the ground, and a number of men will shortly be employed for that purpose. "As a result of an energetic canvass by a special committee-set up ► for the purpose early in the year 34 new members were otbained, and three more were elected throughout the year. Withtresignations throughout the year our membership now stands at 86. The special committee is to be congratulated on the highly successful result of its efforts. “With reference to the balancesheet, your comniitte has pleasure in stating that on this occasion the Chamber, is able to show a credit balance 1 of £5 ’Bs Id. liabilities nil, and a surplus of assets over liabilities amounting to £8 18s Id. This is largely due to the manner in which members assisted by donations in Piping off the outstanding liabilities of- previous years, that arrears to March 31, 1923 amounting to £l7 Os 6d have now been reduced to £2, and to the fact that, of the current year’s subscriptions an. amount of £3B 10s has been received, leaving only £4 outstanding. It is regretted, however, that of the balance or arrears outstanding in previous years, namely, ' £2, £l* 10s is considered doubtful, and of the £4 outstanding from current year’s subscriptions £1 is considered doubtful, as is shown in the balancesheet, and your committee recom- . mends that this meeting write these amounts dK. “From a perusal of the balance- < sheet it will also be noted that the subscription per member of 10s a year is little more than sufficient to meet the year’s expenditure, and a satisfactory position on March 31 ne.xt year can only be obtained provided all subscriptions are paid. Your committee therefore requests that members will keep this in view, as lack ■of funds will seriously hamper the Chamber in its endeavours for the of Paeroa and the sur|ron, nding district. ■i'A vote of thanks is due to Mr Steedman, the auditor; to the Ohinemurl County Council, for the use of for meetings ; find to

the “Hauraki Plains Gazette” for the manner in which it has reported the various meetings.

“It was pleasing to note at the commencement of the year the increased interest taken in the Chamber by members, and some well attended meetings was the result. Your committee regrets to state that towards the end of the year interest waned, and a? a result the attendance at metings was considerably reduced. Youcommittee therefore hopes the members of this Chamber, representing largely the business interests of this community, will make a special endeavour to attend at meetings throughout the coming year, in order that all matters which come before the Chamber may be considered and dealt with by a large and i epresentt - tive gathering of members, and that the resolutions passed by your. Chamber may have the weight of the business people of Paeroa behind them, the interchange of opinions, the benefit of the experience of others, and full discussion of matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the district, are of material assistance in arriving at correct and sound conclusions, • and your committee therefore urges upon members the necessity of unity and co-operation if effective work during the year is to be done. It is pleasing to note that Paeroa has well advanced on the road of progress and prosperity during the past year, and all members of the Chamber are urged to use their best endeavours to further this progressive movement and thus assist the town to become the important business centre that its geographical position and natural advantages warrant.”