CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2195, 28 October 1920, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Tim monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday night, the president, Mr J. M. Barr, presiding. RAILWAY TIME-TABLE. A letter was read from the Minister for Railways, through Mr E. Newman, M.P., advising that the alterations in the Foxfon-Palmers-ton N. time-table, by which the morning train on - Mondays will leave Eoxton at 7.50, instead of 7 o’clock, and (he night train from Palmerston N. on Saturdays will leave that station at 5.35 instead of 8.35 o’clock, will come into 'operation on December Ist, when the new be issued. GOATSRUE.

At the last meeting of the Chamber advice was received from the Lands Department that steps were being taken lo clear the land adjacent to .the Mana-watu Gorge of goatsrue, and thus prevent the.seed from being carried down the river hy floods, and il was decided to advise the Manawatu County Council of this, and ask that in view of same their .decision not to declare goalsrue a noxious weed lie "reconsidered. The following reply was read from the County Clerk at Tuesday night’s meeting:—

“Referring |o your leiier of ISth ultimo, I linve lo inform yon thnl 1 he in forma I ion in possession of the Council regarding the culling of goalsi'lie by the Covernmenl is Iliaf it is eery perfunctory, nnd rim I there nre great quantities of the weed in the Mnnawntu River bed between Palmerston nnd Rangintn. Until (lie Council is snlislied iliac the seed will not come down the river il cannot see its way to alter the decision about declaring goalsruo a noxious weed.”

At (lie previous meeting' Iho Chamber also derided in communi-

cate, asking tlwit goat-one be doel arm 1 by the Department as a noxious weed throughout the Dominion, and I Iris elicit ed the following reply received on Tuesday night: — ‘■.l am in receipt or ot 18th ultimo, in regard to declaring goalsrue ;i noxious Weed throughout the Dominion. In reply, 1 may say that the general tendency in regard In control of noxious weeds is to throw increased rather than diminished responsibilities upon the local authorities of ihe districts concerned, and it is proposed that the present law should lit! amended in the direction of giving the local authorities power to deeidA-dn regard to id! weeds except blackberry, wlielh.ei they should or should not be declared noxious weeds in ibe district of each authority. The local authorities have for some time pas! had power to declare goalsrue a noxious weed, and 1 regret Iha I 1 cannol see my way to lake slops lo have this plan! declared a noxious weed throughout the Dominion.’’

NEW MEMBERS

The folldwing new members were elected: —Messrs A. I toss, A. King, W. Kirkland, AY. 11. Shepherd, F. 11. Crawley, ,S. Austin, M. IT. Walker, Koorc Itaiigihouea, P. I. Jack, \V. ,1. Lanndy, U. A. Spoirs, C, Wadley, F. Petrie, -I. Thomson, James Koss, C.'W. .Hudson,-A. IT, Green, C. W. England, J. V. Durr, 1). Williams, and 13. G. Gower. A vote of thanks tvas accorded Mr W. Petrie for Ids efforts in increasing the membership of the Chamber. FINANCE. The Secretary reported (hat after paying outstanding liabilities the Chamber would have a credit balance of £7 10s. So far this year 56 members had paid their suhscriptions. A donation of fl Is Od towards the funds of the Chamber was received from Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd. TELEPHONE SERVICE. The-Chairman stated that, as requested, he had interviewed the loeal postmaster and obtained details in connection with the extension of the local exchange hours to provide a continuous service, and also in reference to the suggestion of a limited service on Sundays and holidays. The position was that Foxton would be entitled to a continuous service when the number of subscribers reached 151, and provided that a requisition asking for same was signed by two-thirds of the subscribers. A continuous service Would cost subscribers an additional £1 per annum. The number at present connected with the local exchange was 139, and there were .13 waiting lo he connected up, the delay being caused through shortage of material. 'lncluded in these was a party line of six at Himatangi,-. which. had now been waiting"for ..eigfit months. As far

as the Sunday and holiday service was concerned, application should be made for same, but the decision whether same would he granted or not was at the.discretion of the Department. He had also inquired in reference to party lines, and had been supplied with the following information; —For a party of six the Department would build a line up to nine miles, over that distance the subscribers to pay half the cost ot the line; for five subscribers, a line up lo eight miles would .be constructed, and for four .subscribers four miles. The cost -to. subscribers for connection worn! be: six, £7 each; five, £7 Is (hi each; arid four, £5 5s Od.

It was decided to make, application lo have the local exchange opened on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 5 p.m. to (5 p.m., and on holidays 9 a.m. to 'lO a.m., and 7 p.m. (o 8 p.m. FISHING INDUSTRY 7 .

Mr Tunnieliffc stated that since the conference with a committee of the Chamber re Government assistance for the fishing industry he had interviewed the various fishermen, but they did not seem to evince any interest in the matter, and he did not think that the majority would take advantage of the scheme, but one party of about five were going into the matter, and he would probably he able to furnish the Chamber with some further details later.

The Chairman said that the fishermen could count, on all the assistance possible from the Chamber.