CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4856, 22 July 1925, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF PAEROA BODY. The regular meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce was held in the Coronation Chambers last evening, the president (Mr P. Williams) presiding over 30 members. LIGHTING OF POST OFFICE. In reply to representations made by the chamber the secretary of the General Post Office, Wellington, advised that arrangements were being made with the Public Works Department for the installation of electric light throughout the present post office building and postmaster’s residence.

It was decided to thank the department for granting the reauest. RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.

A circular letter was received from the Mayor of Waihi drawing attention to the fact that despite frequent promises by thjj Government to bring down legislation dealing with the Wailiou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme, nothing had so far been done in the matter. The importance of the matter to the whole of the Thames Valley was pointed out on account of the serious decrease in the amount of gold duty in recent years, and the c onsequent piling up of interest and sinking fund due on the loans. The time would come when, if the scheme was not otherwise provided for, payment of charges on the loans would be placed on the land in the river district. The circular pointed out that the whole scheme should be nationalised and taken over by the Government, then the settiers and local bodies in the district would be placed on a safer footing. While the matter was allowed to rest interest and sinking fund charges were accruing, and the amount owing would be surprising. With a view to considering the whole matter the Waihi Borough Council desired to call a conference and wished to know if the chamber would be represented. Mr E. W. Porritt said that at the present time no rate was struck, but the power existed to strike one, and if it was collected it would be a crushing one for settlers living within the river area. Mr L. E. Cajssrels said he was afraid that the settlers would be over-bur-dened if the rate was struck, and he thought steps should be taken to ascertain the position. Mr Buchanan instanced the good tnat some of the drainage had done in the district, but there were also some holdings which were not rev-enue-producing owing to the department building stop-banks, and in instances the drainage scheme had beeu a failure.

On the motion of Mr Marshall the matter was deferred to a later meeting, pending- the action to be followed by the local bodies in the Thames Valley.

MUNICIPAL CHAMBERS.

The Paeroa Borough Council submitted details of the proposal to take a poll of ratepayers to borrow the sum of £2OOO for the purpose of providing office accommodation f or the council. The present office rental was £52 a year, and the interest and sinking fund on the £2OOO would amount to £l4O a year, so an additional amount of £BB a year would have to be found. The council proposed to find that amount annually from the surplus in the water account, which had become possible ,since the purchase of the reticulation from the Ohinemuri County. The rate would only be struck as security for the loan, but it .would not be necessary to collect it. Mr Cassrels said it was a matter for congratulation that the rate would not necessarily be collected. He thought the chamber should give the proposal its solid support. It was decidde to support the loan and thank the council for supplying the details.

NETHERTON LOAN PROPOSALS. Mr D. Leach drew attention to the fact that the settlers in the Netherton riding had been sufficiently enterprising to decide on a special rating area for loading improvements. He moved': "That this chamber congratulate the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association on its endeavour to create a special rating area for a roads improvement scheme, and wish it success in its issue.” Seconded by Mr A. J. Andrews and carried, NEW RAILWAW TARIFF.. The Hon. Minister for Railways, replying to the chamber, advised that the new railway tariff had been sub' mitted to the Associated Chambers of Commerce for consideration, and that body would review the various matters on behalf of the individual chambers and give the department. the benefit of its criticism. The tariff had not been printed, and, in view oi the large amount of work involved, the number of copies that would be distributed would be very limited, and he regretted that a copy was not available for despatch to the chamber. - Mr Porritt said that the Minister’s letter was hardly consistent with his statement made in Wellington a tew days ago. Mr P. E. Brenan said that as a copy of the tariff had not been supplied he was. of the opinion that the Minister had side-stepped the chamber’s request. It was decided to again write to the member for the district and place • the matter before him.. PUBLICITY FOR EXHIBITION. Mr Leach stated that the sub-com-mittee appointed to draw up a com- . prehensive report of the town and district for use at the South Seas Exhibition wta working along steadily, and much valuable and interesting information was being tabulated. He. wished to pay .special tribute to the work of the secretary; Mr E. A. Porritt. Continuing, Mr Leach asked if the chamber would authorise the .taking of photographs of interesting features in the place. The matter was left in the hands of the committee, with power to ac‘. . .