CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2404, 14 March 1922, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

. ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of menlbers 'T of the local-Chamber of Commerce will be held in the Town Hall sup-per-room at 8 o’clock to-morrow . evening. A full attendance of members is • requested. The annual re- * port- and balance-sheet will be subE mitted; arid officers and Council el- " ected for the ensuing year. The annual report reads as follows: — “In presenting the Annual Report and Balance-sheet duly audited for the year ending March 6th,

1022, the Chiimber is to he congra<C. tulated- upon its firpincial position and the great amount of work transacted on pu!die and commercial matters during' the past year, which indicates that the Chamber is a ‘live wire’ in the ooriimunity. The bal-ance.-sheet discloses a credit of £ll 135.2 d. The total receipts for the year are £42 16s 7d, the expenditure £3l 3s sd. The members’ subscriptions totalled £2B 17s, disclosing a membership of 55. There were twelve monthly and one ' Special meeting held 5 during the year, and ■ the attendances 'were very gratifying throughout. The local port and shipping has taken up much of the Chamber’s time. A conference was held with the Palmerston Chamber in reference to statements of a prejudicial nature to the port and shipping alleged to have been made at a meeting of the latter Chamber. The ■ Chambei\ also co-operated with others interested in the formation of a company to secure a steainer for regular trading between this port * and Wellington. We regret to state that the object aimed at has not yet been achieved. In order to promote shipping to the port, steamship companies were communicated with, asking to give reasons why steamers did not trade locally, the replies received being to the effect that the bar was unworkable, and that more profitable freights with less risk were , obtainable elsewhere. .Matters in connect ion /with the delivery of goods, and labour on the wharf,

were also dealt with. An endeavour was made to arrange a. conference between the Levin and : Palmerston Chambers and the Harbour Board to discuss shipping matters generally, and the Palmerston Chamber was asked to fix a date for same, but postponed taking action until the 1 bar and river fairway are im- - proved. ; / Other matters of importance dealt with during the year were the Levin-Greatford railway as against the Palmerston local deviation; lighting.facilities, at the railway 7 station, telephonic facilities, condemned buildings in the borough, heaters in railway .carriages during winter months, Horowhenua Electric Power Board, afforestation of sand dunes within the district, shortening the main arterial road between Palmerston and Foxton, abandonment of Territorial daylight parades, support .of the Manawatn-Oroua River Board,, approaching the Minister of Education re reduction of school hooks to children, improvement to the beach road, support of the Levin-Eketahuna track over the Tararuas,"' co-operating with the Borough Council re water and drainage loans, support of an amendment to fhe Harbours Aet giving wider powers to Harbour Boards re finance, and many other matters of local and district importance. Our was ably represented at annual conference of Associated Chambers held-at Christchurch, and the remits were of educational value to your Council. It is gratifying\to state that the Chamber’s activities during the past year have

in no small measure resulted in im-

proved facilities generally. In conelusion we desire to pay a tribute to the work of the indefatigable secretary, who haft carried out his duties to the utmost satisfaction during the''year. There is mnch ,work a , head for the incoming Council, nn<h we sincerely hope that they will be •"’ ‘ able to achieve the same measure of .success as was accomplished during ; the past year?’