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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 942, 17 January 1911, Page 2

It is matter for sincere regret that the local Chamber of Commerce is in a moribund state. It would be a thousand pities to let it die. The Chamber has accomplished much good in the past, for to its efforts must be credited among other things, the establishment of the Harbour Bo?rd. The Chamber has a verv important nich to till and its inactivity is apparent by the recent scandalous “romp-over” by a few Palmerston pleasure-seekers in delaying the Saturday mid - day Palmerston - Foxton train and mails thus sacrificing commerce to pleasure. A vigilance committee is required, apart altogether from the Borough Council, to assist and forward any object for the advancement of the town. Bast year the Chamber advocated the establishment of a Customs’ Bond at the local port, and the Minister for Marine eventually promised that if it were shown that a sufficient amount of duty would be collected at Foxton at a cost for collection not exceeding that of other similar ports, then he could favourabiy consider having Foxton declared a port of entry for dutiable goods. From enquiries made it appears that the amount of duty that would be paid at Foxton by tradespeople in Palmerston North, Feilding, Beviu, and other adjacent towns, would be quite sufficient to justify the Minister in acceding to the Chamber’s request. Had the matter been pushed on with at the time perhaps ere this the declaring of Foxton as a port of entry would have been an established fact. This is only one of the many things that this Chamber could interest itself in at present. What the Chamber wants is an enthusiastic secretary. We would suggest that a meeting be called in order to make a fresh start with the new year.

A circular was received from the Saturday Universal Halfholiday Association by the Presbyterian Assembly, asking for an expression of opinion as to whether Saturday should be fixed by Statute as the universal half-holiday. Courtesy demanded that the Assembly should send a reply, and after some discussion by this august body, it was decided *o remit the question to the various committees of management and deacons’ courts throughout the Dominion, and thus ascertain a Presbyterian expression of opinion on the subject. The remit was read at yesterday’s meeting of the Pox ton district charge, and a resolution passed in favour ol Saturday. It is a debateable point, however, whether this or any other section of the Christian church is acting wisely in dealing with matters concerning the secular or industrial side of life. We may be narrow in our view, but we hold that the church exists purely for the spiritual well-being of the people, and it has plenty to do in this connection without being burdened with secular affairs.