CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 824, 9 April 1910, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly general meeting of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce was held in the Council Chamber last night. The President, Dr Mandl, occupied the chair, and there w’as a good attendance of members.

The president read his report on the work done during the past quarter. It referred to the steps taken in connection with the request that Foxton should be constituted a port ol entry for dutiable goods. The Hon. J. A. Millar had been approached on the subject, and he had said that the Customs Department was run on business lines, and it remained for Foxton to prove that the amount of duty collected would warrant the Department granting the request. Since then a great deal more information had been obtained by the Chamber, and he was of opinion that on a minimum basis of ,£20,000 the cost of collection would not exceed 2 per cent., and it was for the meeting to decide what further steps were to be taken in the matter. Referring to the Leviu-Martou Railway, the president said that the Marton Chamber had brought fonvard a very important matter, and asked for the co-operation ol the districts interested in placing more prominently before the Government, the travelling public, and merchants, the advantages to be derived by adopting the shorter route. They suggested issuing lithographed plans of the proposed line, at a cost of ,£ls 15s, to be borne by the Marton, Foxton and Levin Chambers. The president congratulated the citizens in taking action in the matter of a water supply, but said that it was the feeling ol a considerable portion of the community that the fullest possible information with regard to alternate schemes should be procured from the highest authorities. The report concluded with the hope that enthusiasm would be instilled into the questions that are now being brought forward. — The report was adopted. The Treasurer reported the amount in hand was ,£5 (>s nd. Correspondence was read from the secretary of the Trades and Customs Department, advising that the cost of collection of duty at Wellington was £,T 6s fid per cent., Wanganui ,£1 17s id per cent., Westport £2 14s rod per cent., Greymoulh ,£2 3s nd per cent., and Nelson £2 6s rod per cent.

From the Hon. J. A. Millar, advising that he had given instructions that the matter of lighting the Foxtou wharf be attended to.—Received.

In reference to the question of having Foxton constituted a port of entry for dutiable goods, Mr Hennessy suggested that the merchants in Palmerston North and Feilding be asked to sign a petition stating that they would clear their goods in Foxtou if a custom house were established, and after some discussion a motion to this effect was carried, and Messrs Dr Mandl, Walker, Perreau Gray and the secretary were deputed to interview the merchants in the above mentioned towns on a date to be arranged.

The letter from the Marton Chamber of Commerce re having plans of the proposed EevinMartou railway prepared and distributed was discussed at some length, and it was decided that the Borough Council be asked to vote out of unauthorised expenditure the money required to defray P'oxton’s share in the expense of the map for Eevin-Martou railway, and that the Marton Chamber’s letter be sent to them.

The secretary was voted a bonus of ,£5 for his services.

The meeting rose at 9.15 p.m