CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4835, 27 May 1925, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING. The 17th annual meeting of the Taerva Chamber of Commerce was held in the Coronation Chambers last evening, the president (Mr E. W. Pu>ritt) presiding over an attendance of 25 members. The proceedings Lnrougaout. were of an enthusiastic nature. NEW MEMBERS. Messrs A J. Payne, W. E. Ward, h. S. arden, W. J. Simpson, C. H. Pascoe, and A J. Andrews were elected members. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET The annual report and balancesheet was then presented by the secretary (Mr E. A. Porritt). In moving its adoption Mr P. E. Bra.'.-an congratulated the chamber cn its satisfactory position, as disclosed by the secretary. In seconding the motion Mr Edwards pointed out that no comment had I een made in the report with regal d to the new post, office. He also thought that some mention might have been made of the interest taken in the chamber by several Karat c.thake residents. , The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. In connection with the office of proident M - E. W. Porritt said that he was? of the opinion that it should be filled by i- retail businessman, ns nuch a person was in more intimate touch with the businessmen of the town, and such matters as half-holi-day closing, steamer and railway freights, could be more easily dealt with, and by co-operation with retailers Hie object of the chamber and the welfare of the business community could ’:e better served. He instanced the . case of the Hauraki A. and P. Ass? ciation, wherein as soon as fanner had been appointed president that 1 ody had gone ahead, because i*. was essentially a farmers’ institution. He was of the opinion that a similar position prevailed in regard tc the chamber. Mr Porritt then formally nominated Mr P. Williams to fil] the office of president. Seconded by Mr Leach and carried •?. itli acclamation. Mr Williams suitably acknowledged the honour conferred on him. The following were also elected: Vice-president. Mr -P. E. Brenan; aiidker, Mr A. F. Stefdman : executive committee, Messrs E. W. Porritt, E. Ed wards, R. S. Carden, F. E. Flatt, W. Marshall, H. J. Hare, D. Leach, and A. R. Gorrie. MR. PORRITT HONOURED. Mr Marshall moved that the chamber r'ace on record its appreciation of the unselfish and untiring work of the retiring i.residnet during the 15 ,eas he had held office. Mr Porritt had Ixen responsible for the framing of its by-laws, and all the progressive works which the chamber had undertaken over a long term of years. A deep debt of gratitude was doe to M r I’. rritt for his public-spirited endeavours on behalf of. the town and district. It was very gratifying to know that vhc help and knowledge of Mr Porritt were to be retained bn the < xcentive committee. Seconded by Mr Leach and. carried by acclamation. Mr L. E. Cassrels ably supported the •.cm irks made, by Mr Marshall, ani referred particularly to the valuable work the retiring president had cal ied out during the war years. Mr Porritt thanked the members for tneir expressions of appreciation. He riefly outlined the ac.tiivties cl the chamber during the early days of its exsitence, and expressed the hope that -he new president would have a happy year ot office. He assured the meeting that whatever knowledge and experience be had gained would be placer at the disposal of the chamber He trusted that the members would stick together and back up the president and executive in pushing .-.lie progiess of Paeroa and district along oil stand lines. On the motion of Mr Steedman, :bonded by Mr Brenan, Mr Porritt was elected a life-member, as a slight tribute to ths valuable and loyal services‘'he had rendered to ihe com mun.'y. MEETINGS. Mr wassnls thought that if the mee-nigs were held monthly instead cf < very two months a keener interest in chamber affairs would be maintained, and 'loser co-operation among mem; ers wou’d result. Mr Porritt agreed, and said that he thought- the change was well worth trying. It was resolved that meetings be held on the third Tuesday in each month. SOCIAL EVENING. Mr de Castro suggested that a social evening should be held as a means of bringing >.he farming community into rloser touch with the townspeople. He considered that *he members of the Ngatea chamber should be iuiited to attend, and thus become better acquainted and encourage niutiial exchange of ideas. The president said that the project was all right, but he thought that Ngatea was 100 far away. He considered that the settlers nearer Paeroa might be invited. PLAINS CAR SERVICE. Tn connection with the Hauraki Plains peop:-!. Mr Hare pointed out that tne farri: to Paeroa by the service cars were far too high to encourage lhe settlers to visit the town tb transect business, and he thought that the cnamber should do more than it had c\ne in the past to encourage the settleis to visit Paeroa by isubsidising Bronin and Co., and thus bring down the cost of the fares to the settlers. He contended that the tradespeople had Inemselves to blame to a large extent that more business did not come their way.

Mr A. J. Andrews said that so far as the Ngatea people were concerned Brenan’s bus service was a nonentity, as the fares to Pacroa were beyond the oale. Tic contended that there was something wrong when a Thames bus oprietor could run passengers from iJgate'i to Thames and back for the m ice of a single fare from Ngatea to Taeroa. The Thames-Plains ser-

vic.; had. come to stay, and Kerby’s hum hes had been withdrawn from the t ade owing to the competition. Mr Porritt outlined the business of the meeting held at Ngatea when tne chamber first instituted the service from Paeroa. He said that at that time there v-as no bu.-> service from Ngatea to Thames, and the settlers had to wait days for their mail h.v ku'ivrcs. Even then the Ngatea peopie peared to be divided, and doubt-h.-sly there vould always be a number who would patronise Thames as a shopping centre. The settlers had express* -.1 unfeigned appreciation in getting a daily mail service and being aiferded the opportunity of being brought into touch with the railway so vi.es. The Thames people had offered to carry mails free for som; time if a bus service wilts run to NgJ’ca '.rom their town. Lately they had made another attempt to get the mail service, but had been unsuccessful. He knew-that Brenan and Co. weic maintaining toe service to the Plains at a Pss, ami instanced the arrangements made whereby a few of the busi.i f ss people had undertaken to subs rose the service. Although some had paid the guarantee a number had net. end it had been impossible under the circumstances, with heavy wear and teai over the bad roads, to keep the c?it of the fares at the original pri x He was doubtful if the wt tiers’ preference for Thames would ever be broken

Mr Hare pointed out that :be roads were improving all the time, and in the rear fuHTre one-third of the distance from Paeroa to Ngatea would be over bitumen and the balance over solid metal roads. He contended that it was hot yet too late to tubsidise the tcrvice and reduce the fares. No .-tone should be left unturned to encourage the Planis settlers to regard Paeroa as their natural shopping centre. He did not think the .-cal people ■•>’re interesting themselves in the project as much as they ought to. After several other members had spoken the natter, together with the sc rial question, was deferred until the next meeting. LOCAL RESTORATION. On the motion of Mr Brenan, seconded by Mr Cassrels, the executive was inked to look into the question of local restoration of licenses and t-< bring the matter forward for discussicn ut the meeting. hfrd-testing. Tlif. Hamilton Chamber of Commerce forwarded the following resolution end asl.ed for support: “This Chamber of Commerce recommends to the Government that a bonus on ths basis of subsidy be granted tp assist in the permanent establishment under eflicie it control of systematic group herd-testing.” It was agreed to support the resolution and to write to the Minister for Agriculture on the lines suggested. NGAHINA WHARF. A report oo the arrangements made by the Paeroa Borough Council in cc.’ircction v ith the taking over of control of the Ngahina wharf was read. A resolu’.on of thanks end congratulation was accorded the Mayor and councP’.’rs for bringing the arrangements to such a satisfactory conclusion.

Mr Etlwa/tls appealed to the bus; ness Tien to support the river service ami increase the port’s revenue, tbertby assisting the revenue, of the bcroi'gh for maintenance work. t-.’.eral members spoke strongly cf the necessity for keeping tne. river opn as a navigable channel for pll time.

Mr Cassr- Is considered tnat the completion of the negotions and .he control of the wharf made one of the outstanding features of the late council’s r iccessful and progressive term of office.

In returning thanks the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) strongly deprecated the chamoer taking up ar.v attitude that would provoke competition with the railways. The port of Paeroa would be ..eveloped as a complementary sei-.lec to the railways, and in his opinion it was a mistake to suggest any mitagonism or competition against the lailways.

Mr Leach agreed that advantages of ti e waterways should be taken, but the matter should be handled diplomatically. It was quite unnecessary to antagonist the Railway Department in any way.

Mr Porritt explained the proceedings a*, the conference at Tc Aroha uith the business agent for '.he Railway Department, and agreed with Mr M irshair that it was decidedly not in the interes: -. of the progress of tli<. district to work on the lines .sugges .- cd by Mr Edwards.

The suggsrion of Mr Silccck’s that a copj' of the report of the council should be circularised was opposed, the prosident remarking that the Borough Council had forwarded the report to the < hamber for its ’’nforma tinn out of courtesy and the members appre lated tne action of the council.