Chamber of Commerce.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7320, 13 June 1902, Page 3

Chamber of Commerce.

The Mana-,T:.tu Kuihvay.

A special meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce wua held last night to consider the advisability of calling a public meeting to protest against, the notion of the Government concerning tho Mannwatu railway. Mr M; I ohon, president, occupied tho chair, and in opening the lneetiai; ho stated that it was not called for the purpose of discussing tho rights or wrongs oi tho Government's action towards tho Manawatu Kailway Company. Tho pojitioj seemed to bj that the one wanted to sell and the other to buy ; tho only quostion was that of price, but that was a matter with which they had nothing to do. Whjn, howover, it becama a question of the Government proposing to bring about such alterations which must detrimentally affect tho interests of all the inhabitants in tho distrie;, thcu it was time the Chamber usado itsolf heard. Whatever tho morita of tho quarrel between the Government and tho company might bo, it was the duty of the chamber to see that the public of this district was not tnada the victim between them. Ho further thought tho time had arrived when such an important link in tho railway system of the North Islaud was tnado a Stato-ownod concern, and ho moved, "That this meeting urge on the members of Parliamoat of the district, the borough council, and local bodies the necessity of calling a public meeting to considor all matters in connection with the proposed action of the Government concerning the railway."

Tho motion was seconded by Captain Precce.

Mr F. Firani, M.H.R., stated tboro was no doubt the iutontion of tho Government was to block the through traffic between Palmorston North and Longburn. From information ho had received ho knew the idea was to build n now station at Longburn for tho Government lino, and to compel tho Company to build a station on tho Wellington Bido of tho road, no coinniunicition taking placo botwoon tho two stations, Paltueraton and Longbnrn, excopt by roul. Tho present railway lino would be taken up, goods carted and pusesngcrs compelled to either walk or drive to Longburn or Palmerston Jfo agreed that it was not tho province of tho Chamber then tocritioi-c the action of tho Government in regird to the acquisition of the JVfanawatu line, but tho time had arrived when us business mon and settlors they should consider their own interests and those of the community, and show that they would not tamely submit to iujusticc by any Government. For their own objects presumably, Government wished to force the Company to soil on their own terina, but by their action they were injuring tho business people of the district, and through them the resident-; by compelling them to use tho WiiiraiMpa, lii o insload of tho Company's, iio hud recontly proceeded to Wellington by too Government line and though the tr,.m had only consisted, of three passenger carriages, it lnid taken t'.ireo Foil engines to draw it up the Eimutaka Under those eir cumstanccs one could very well imagine the condition of thiogs obtainable if they had to cope with the wliolo of the trailie. Communication between Wellington and I'almer.ston must be rapid, both for goods and passenger tratlie. He had recently pointed out to the General Manager of Hallways that it was impossible either to Ret goods from Wellington the same day they were ordered or to go to Wellington aud return the same day by tho Government line, yet that could bo done o.i the .Manawatu line. He considered tho Chamber had taken the right course to prevent the interests of the district being sacrificed simply to please those negotiating for the purchase of the line. He certainly thought very strong steps should be taken heru and in Wellington also to block the proposed action of Government in the matter. He supported the resolution, and hoped very much wider steps would be taken than thoso suggested by the resolution. Tho Mayor questioned the facts that could be placed before a public, meeting at the present time, stating that Kir Joseph Ward had told him that arrangements were being made of such a nature tW..;,v> ; !x would be ~,im«l «U. W r m.rl tho trallic generally more expediliously than at present. From further information he had received, lie considered the time had not arrived to call | a public meeting. He thought, however, that it was time the line should be acquired by the colony and no longer remain in private hands.

Replying to the Mayor as to there being nothing to place before :i public meeting, Mr Cohen slated the' Chamber lnid avoided any desire to try and tie the hands or lay down a hard and fast principle upon its superior body, the Council, and the member for the district, but lie thought instead of there being nothins? to place before a public meeting, there was everything that any speaker liked to bring forward. It appeared to him that it would bo better, instead of waiting uutil the threatened danger had become real, to do something which would vlace them in a strong position before the dancer commenced. Ilepresentations to the authorities when it was too late ■would be no good; it would be better to take time by the forelock. Mr Pirani explained that ho had nothing to do with the calling of the preso it meeting or with the resolution, and until he saw the notilicaiion in the papers, was not aware the Chamber was going to more in the matter. He had published the information which he had in hand in connection the matter, and knew that it was accurate. They should romember that Sir Joseph Ward was a politician and a politic politician, and anything from him had to bo taken as from a j.an desirous of strengthening his public position. It was not a private matter that notice bail been given of the intention to lake tho necessary land for the new station at Longburn, uud if Sir Joseph Ward had boon faced with the direct qnes'.ion by tho Mayor, ho could not have said an> thing but in the ad'ircnutivo. lie thought a meotiog should bo hold in Wellington as well ai her.\ They wore within four month* of tho time of expira'ion of :hc iigr^ument, and ho thought it was dejirablo that nveryono should li'ivo information a^> to the conditions under which tho company wr-ro to hold their linp. Mr Pirani concluded by stating Uovornment intended lowering their rates and iho company would have to folio,v suit, (he action of tho Government, no doub'.., being part of I tho schcino to force ihe salo of tho linn.

Mr 11. H. Abraham said bo c-iuld not believe that any Government cou'd do as Mr Pirani had suggested was abaut, to bo dona in this case. IE tho Government did ho then it would simply be impossible to cops with tbo tvafli.;, mid ho thought the bast po'icy tlio company could pur3Uo was to shut th::ir railway down, and co compel this Govermntnt to acknowledge the absurdity oE tho position which thoy had brought about. He also suggpsted that a mass deputation be sen', to Wellington to protest ngainat the action of I ha Government. Ho was in accord with Mr Wood urnl also Mr Firani. The time for n public mooting win when tho Jlousa was tilting, but at tho same time ho was fully iv accord with this meeting, raid it tho matter was not tiiken in hand tho whole thing might go by the board. It seemed to him inconceivable that the residents of tho district should not have taken tho matter seriously ov very much moro would have boon heard about it, and the general indignation moro oponlv expressed than had been. It seemed impossible to boliovo that Government should behave in such a way. The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr ]{. H. Abraham moved that the miMiil.er for the district, the Mayor an.: Hie I'lv.-UU-nt ot the Chamber should be a Committee to call a public meeting to draw up resolutions and take any other steps deemed advisable, mid to invite members nf other local bodies, townspeople ami farmers to ..I Lend so that the mooting should bo thoroughly influential. In Bccoudiugjthe resolution, Mr E. 0. J^dey omjossod. Mr Abraham's ro-

marks, and in addition, suggested that a petition bo prepared for signature at dm meetinc;. The Mayor would do his he<t to forward (he interests of the district and as far as tho trallio was concerned no one could say the slock trains would not cease running if a bloc!; occurred between here and Wellington Tho interests of fho district we're such thatthey eouhl not be allowed to go by i!,,. board by allo\viiis» Government to play fast and loose with the railway. If tho Government thought the railway should be purchased in the interests nf the colony they should do so. A few thousands, more or less, would not break the colony. It was decided Mr Colipii should act as convener of the Committee.

Tho motion was then put and carried unanimously, and Mr K. S. Abraham's namn was added to tho sub-committee, and tho meeting then adjourned.