CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4781, 26 November 1924, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

♦— 81-MONTHLY MEETING. The bi-monthly meeting of the Paoroa Chamber of Commerce Was held in the Coronation Chambers last evening, the president, Mr E. W. Porritt, presiding over Messrs T. W. Kenny, W. Marshall, Wm. C. Alexander, G. H. Tayloi, H. M. Shand, W. Bain, J. Bertelsen, W. Alp, G. P. de Castro, C. Holes, F. W. Flatt, J. W. Silcock, A. Steedman, A. R. Gorrie, P. E Brenan, G. P. Lamb, H. Hare, A. J. Andrews, and Eric Porritt, secretary. LICENSING MATTERS. The Hon. Minister for Justice replied to resolutions forwarded by the Chamber with reference to licencing matters and stated that the matters had been noted for consideration when any further- licensing legislation, was brought forward. SCHOOL DISTRICT COURTS. I’he Waikato Winter Show Association forwarded a copy of the conditions in connection with a school district courts exhibit at the 1925 Winter Show. It was agreed that it would be a splendid advertisement for the district if a local court could be arranged, but owing to the distance and expense that would necessarily be incurred it was agreed to take no action. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. The Thames Chamber of Commerce wrote asking what holidays be observed during Christmas and New ,4. ■ ' ■ Year. "q. . Mr Bain said that as the meeting was so small he favoured the matter being deferred. Mr de Castro asked if what Paeroa did affected Thames greatly. The president said he thought that the information was sought more with the idea of securing some uniformity in the district. Mr Shand intimated that the local grocers had decided to close on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and reopen on Monday of each week. It was resblvde to leave the reply to the president and secretary, W LOAN PROPOSALS. . The president stated that the meeting had been called primarily to discuss the borough loan proposals,, and he would call on Mr Marshall to explain the various proposals. Mr Marshall said that he was not going to condemn the ratepayer who voted against any loan, but he had no time for the ratepayer who. did not exercise his vote. He said it had been agreed that the fullest co-opera-tion'o the chamber should be sought, and that was why his colleagues on the council had asked for the opportunity to explain and discuss the proposals. Each proposal was then explained in detail. / Dealing with the propose! lo.an for enlarging, renewing, and extending water mains in the borough, Mr Marshall said that in conversation with Government auditor recently he had .learned that the local water rate was cheaper than most other places in New Zealand, and yet the water fund account was -one of the most profittable to the council. The £6OOO would provide sufficient money for the development of Paeroa for many years to come.. • At the request of the presidnet Mr Flatt explained how the insurance premiums on fire risks would be considerably reduced if 4in mains were laid down. " ' • In answer to Mr de,Castro Mi' Mar-shall-said he did not advocate earmarking any surplus money in the water account for further extensions. It would be unwise to extort rates from ratepayers if there was a credit balance in .the water fund, which was a trading account, and as such the money cou|d be used in other directions ' if necessary. At the present time there was not a sufficient sur- , plus in the water account to provide for other works, otherwise a loan for urgent works would not be asked fo»v There would be no increase in the .present water charges. There was little possibility of Paeroa being short of water under the present headworks. and it was hoped in the near -future to make with the Ohinemuri County Council to bring in another creek so as to lessen al), possibility of a shortage. The presidnet said he could not see the proposal could be a burden on the ratepayers. He thought it was a sound revenue-producing proposi tion, nad he moved that the Chambei endorse the proposal as outlined. i Seconded by Mr Gorrie and carriedSEWERAGE LOAN. Mr Marshall next proceeded to briefly outline the proposed loan of £2OOO for the purpose of assisting ratepayers to connect with the sewerage system. He said that there was no other way for the council) to finance ratepayers other than by a loan. It was. .not anticipated that there would be any necessity to strike a rate, as the borrowers would "he required to pay seven ter enctum interest on the moneL There were already over thirty applications in hand tor financial assistance to connect with the se.wer. In reply to Mr Alp. Mr Marshall paid that the amount l.oaned was recoverable as a rate, and the council would undertake to have the connections made. If a ratepayer objected to the price submitted by the council another price could be obtained before the contract was made for the loan money but the council could compel a connection to be made. The borrowed money could be repaid at any time, but 7 per cent, was the bedrock interest that coul ( d be. charged. Mr de Castro said he could not see how £2OOO would be sufficient in view of the number of ratepayers who had not yet connected up. Mr Brenan explained that it was not expected that the 300 ratepayers would require assistance. A number were only marking time. On the motion of Mr Steedman, seconded by Mr Hare, it was agreed to endorse the proposal. LOAN PROPOSAL F|OR GAS. The proposal to borrow a sum of ' £6500 for the purpose of purchasing the assets of the Ohinemrui Light

and Power Co., Ltd. (in liquidatoin), and effecting imrpovements to the buildings, plant, and gas mains, was next discussed. Mr Marshall explained at the outset that the reason why the company had gone into liquidation was beeause it could not make it pay, and the question Was whether the ratepayers would be prepared to sanction the loan and bear the proposed increase in the cost of gas production sufficinet to make the plant a paying proposition. The Waihi Borough Council had generously placed the services of its gasworks manager, Mr Learmonth, at the local council’s disposal. Mr Learmonth was at one time manager in Paeroa, and knew the plant thoroughly and had supplied a lengthy report on the plant for the use.

At the request of the president Mr Marshall read the report submitted by Mr Learmonth, which showed that it would cost £1745 to put the plant in good repair. Replying to the president, Mr Marshall said that the carrying of gas to Karangahake was a losing proposition, and it was not reasonable to ask ratepayers to bear the loss for the benefit of a, few. Mr Gorrie asked the cost of gap in Waihi. Mr Marshal,! replying that it was 9s 3d a thousand feet. Mr Steedman asked if the council was in favour of taking over the plant.

Mr Marshall replied that the council did not unanimously favour the project. It could not be overlooked that there was an element of risk in the undertaking. Mr Hare said he was of the, opinion that with the advent of electricity in the borough the company had shown no enterprise in obtaining new consumers or in retaining the old ones. In reply to Mr de Castro Mr Marshall said that it would not be possible to secure a new concern at anything like the figure quoted by the company, and the. council could not buy it for less. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to endorse the action of the council in submitting the loan proposal, the motion being moved by Mr Steedman and seconded by Mr de Castro.

Mr Marshall returned thanks on behali of the council for ‘he interest displayed by the chamber members in the loan proposals, apd said he hoped that there would be a record poll on December 17. In acknowledging the thanks of the council the president in return thanked M' Marshall for bringing the matter before the chamber and for the full and lucid explanations given in connection with each proposal. WAIMARIE BEND.

On behalf of Mr V. Young, Hikutaia, Mr Steedman drew attention to the fact- that during the last flood the river had risen to within 6in of the ton ot the bank at Waimarie Bend, and since then the stop-bank frbm that point to the Puke had been raised and the gaps in a number of places had been closed. It was now feared that if a flood took place about 3000 acres in the Kaimanawa area would be inundated and serious loss result. It was decided to dra,w the attention of the department to the serious danger that existed, and ask that stop-banking be undertaken bn both sides of the river. FLAG STATION SUGGESTED. Mr de Castro moved that in view of the removal of the railway station from its present site to a position at the other end of the town, consideration might be given to the erection of a flag-station in the vicinity of the Te Aroha Road crossing. Seconded by Mr Holes. • The motion was lost.