Chamber of Commerce.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3539, 27 June 1905, Page 2

Chamber of Commerce.

meeting of the council. The first meeting of the Council of the Foxton Chamber of Commew> ?yas held last evening, when there were prssent Messrs G. A. Simpson (president, if the chair), Alf. Fraser (vice-president), CL- Barnard, G. H. Stiles, G. Nye,’ P. HChUessy, and R. Moore (secretary). NEW MEMBERS. Messrs S, W. H. Frankland, C. F. Johnston, and O. E. Austin were elected members. DATES OF MEETING. It was resolved that the Council meet on the fourth Monday in each month, and that the general quarterly meetings of the Chamber be held in the Masonic Hall, the first to be in Septenfeeri RULES. It was decided to get the rules and bye-laws printed, the matter being left ■ to a sub-committee to arrange. I THANKS. It was resolved to forward a letter o' thanks to the Borough Council for granting the use of the council clumber. BARBOUR MATTERS. A letter was read from the editor of the Manawatu Herald urging tin need for improved harbour facilities and management, and suggesting the formation ot a harbour board to take over the conduct ot the port. _ A quantity of information in connection with the working of other ports was also forwarded. The President said the question was one which certainly required attention. He had been struck, on seeing the small rivers doing duty as ports a Patea and Waitara, with the absurdity of the position here, where there wina good river and much more shipping, anil where we yet had no control oi the trade. The benefit that must accrue from the formation of a harbour board and the ripeness ot the time for the inauguration of such an institution must be apparent to all. Mr Hennessy, in concurring in these views, said it appeared, from what figures had been available so far, that a revenue of at least £ISOO a year would lie derived from the trad . There would be no endowments to assist this, but there would, 1 f course, be no debt to start with, unless the Government, if it was willing to hand over the control of the port, insisted upon payment for the wharves, e'c.. erected by the Railway Depar - meat.

Mr Fraser pointed out that at Patea the various changes brought in a revenue of over £3OOO, of ''’lnch oil: some F 5 50 came from endowmonhHe thought that with the bigger trade done at Foxton the'e wonM lie no difficulty in getting pretty well as ranch revenue here. Mr Fraser moved that the secret ar write to Mr Vile, asking him to obtain from the Government a statement in detail ot receipts and expenditure from and on the whan at Foxton for twelve months. The re turn should show' what was gamed from wharfages, berthages, and pi: > age. The motion was seconded aid earned.

Mr Fraser further moved, seconded by Mr Nye, that the Railway Department be asked to extend the wharf another 200 feet southward (up stream.) If the department weifld not carry out this necessary work it would strengthen the hands of the Chamber 111 advocating the formation of a harbour board.—The motion was carried.

SANATORIUM. It was resolved to ask the Tourist Department to make an extension of Waraagi Sanatorium, as the sections are now all taken up, and inquiries are constantly being made for more by people desirous of taking them up The chamber will also urge tha! further planting should be done with out delay, to check the sand drift. The council then adjourned.