CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2551, 6 March 1923, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL REPORT.The following is the report to be submitted to. the annual meeting of thet Chamber of Commerce, to be heldo'n Thursday, for the year ending ..February -28th, 1923. “During the year your committee has dealt with many matters of importance, not only affecting the welfare of the town and district, but also of the Dominion as a whole. Beach Road: —This matter was gone into very fully and after writing on several occasions to the Manawatu County Council that body eventually, decided to appoint a representative to attend a meeting of the Chamber to discuss the matter. Cr. Barber accordingly attended a meeting of your Council held in March last, and after explaining the Manawatu County Council’s position in regard to the road, considered that as the Beach was a considerable asset to the Borough of Foxton, the Foxton Borough Council should contribute something towards the maintenance of the road. It was finally decided that your Chamber recommend the County Council to approach other interested local authorities with a view to their sharing a proportion of the cost of road maintenance, failing which a commission be appointed to review the circumstances and apportion the cost equitably among the local bodies concerned. Telephone Communication with Palmerston NorthrAfter making representations your Chamber was successful in having the hours of direct telephone communication with Palmerston North extended from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The local postmaster is to be thanked for valuable assistance in this matter. Party Lines for Country Setflers: —This matter was fully dealt with by your Committee and circular letters were forwarded to likely settlers in the district setting out all information in connection with party telephone lines. Although much time was devoted to this matter no immediate results were achieved, but the groundwork has been done and in all probability several settlers will join up in the future. Local Port. —The question of in-

creased shipping 1 to the port of

Foxton has also been considered at several meetings of your Committee, and eventually a conference of Chambers of Commerce and local bodies was held at the request of your Chamber in Palmerston North. The conference was largely attended by representative men throughout the Manawatu, and a great deal cf publicity was given to the proceedings. A committee was formed to prepare statistics of inward and outward cargo, and this information was given to shipping companies and others interested. There has been no immediate increase of shipping to the port as a result of this conference, but your committee has been given to understand that at least one or two shipping companies are considering the question of trading to the port. It is to be hoped that the Harbour Board which was represented at the conference will pursue the matter further and by offering increased facilities bring about the desired result. Fire Board. —A motion was passed by your committee recommending the ratepayers to support the proposal for the formation of a Fire Board and loan in connection therewith, which recommendation was no doubt in some measure responsible for the success of the scheme..

Training of Territorials and Senior Cadets: —Captain Mead (Area Officer) attended one of the Chamber’s meetings and explained "the new training scheme, which your committee fully endorsed. As no complaints have been received evidently the new scheme is working to the satisfaction of employers in the district.

Levin-Greatford .Railway— A committee' was formed during the year and although no special meetings have been called in conjunction with the Marton and Levin Cham- , hers of Commerce this important matter has not been lost sight of.

Bank Bate of Interest.—-In conjunction with other Chambers of Commerce throughout blew Zealand, your committee decided to write to the chairman of the Associated Banks requesting that the bank rate of interest on overdraft be reduced, and (t is pleasing to report that a reduction in this direction was made at the beginning of the year. Railway Time Table; —A good deal of. correspondence resulted in bringing about the much needed alteration to the local time-table, whereby the morning train leaves Boston at 7.50 a.m. each morning, and arrives back at 6.10 p.m. each evening with the exception of Saturday. . The alteration has been greatly appreciated by all concerned, especially parents of children attending High School in Palmerston North.

Annual Conference of Chambers of Commerce. —This conference was held in Dunedin on the Ist and 2nd November, 1622, and although your Glia.tuber wua not represented by one of its members, a proxy representative in the person of Mr Forsyth Johnston was appointed, and your committee’s directions to him were fully carried out. Mails;—Owing to the Railway Department withdrawing the midday train between Foxton and Palmerston North on two days of the week your committee has made representations to the Postal Department to have these mails inward and outward, carried by char-a-banc. This question is now being dealt with, and will be one of the mat-

ters requiring the attention of your new committee.

Many other matters of minor importance have been dealt with during the year and your committee strongly recommends that members one and all, give the Chamber their assistance and co-operation during the year about to be entered upon, in order that the many matters affecting the town and district may be satisfactorily dealt with from time to time as occasion arises.

In conclusion your committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by the secretary, Mr Roore Rangiheuea, aud also to thank the Press for its help and support during the year.

It is also desired to place on record the deep regret felt by all members at the death of the late Mr W. Bock, who was a member of the Chamber for many years and lion, auditor for the past three years.”